The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-12-02
TERRORS Of
RAILWAY TRAVEL
Inconyenient and Unhealthy Cars and
Careless officials Need a sharp
Checking Up
(Tampa Tribune)

a few days ago the Tribune had oc-
casion to comment on the complaints
made by the travelling public about the
inferior quality of the passenger
coaches operated on the railroads from
Jacksonville to this section of the
state. The subject has been taken up
by a number of papers, and the unan-
imous expression is that the railroads
operating in this section do not show
proper consideration for the comfort
and convenience of the large passen-
ger movement now coming into Florida
except insofar as the East Coast travel
is concerned.
The Ocala Star for example, states
that the day coaches north of Jackson
willie are almost as good as the parlor
cars south of it. The Star adds: There
is certainly lots of travel on the rail-
roads Every southbound train going
through this city is crowded beyond
the point of comfort, and there are
plenty OF people going north. And all
the people who go north next spring
will denounce the dirty coaches they
had to travel in south of Jacksonville.
Not to speak of our own people, who
are entitled to the best there is-and
do not obtain it,"
The Savannah Morning News also
takes up the subject, in it's largest as
pect, and quotes Hon. Judson Clements,
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, that it is the duty of Congress to
make travel clean and sanitary, both
by rail and water. The News also
quotes the report of Commissioner II.
VI. Stanley, of the Georgia department
of commerce and labor, in which he re-
commended that trainmen and street
car conductors be taught hygiene and
sanitation, to the end that passenger
coaches and street cars be kept in a
more comfortable and sanitary condi-
tion. The truth of this contention,
says the News, is SO apparent that it is
strange the public has endured so long
and risked so much before insisting on
better conditions. Even a short trip by
rail Is often made torturouS or a men,
ace to health through the lack of a
few commonsense precautions. In the
summer a deluge of dust and cinders
fills mouth and eyes from the window
which the man in front insists on keep
ing open; in the winter perSpiring e
mortals gasp in humid heat because a
wooden headed porter manipulates
the steam valves and an Indifferent
conductor either doesn't think or
doesn't care. These are only two of
the most common sources of discOm-
fort but they are great factors in
spreading disease and often leave the
traveller of delicate health prostrated
at the end of even a short journey.
Speaking OF the travel to Florida, the
News adds:
at Is only necessary to board the day
coach of one of the through trains
from the West, late at night, when the
| Florida travel is at it's height to meet
| conditions that even the tyro in hy-
giene recognizes as dangerous. Hud-
| died on the seats, in many cases the
| car being packed to it's capacity, men,
women and children, young, aged and
| infirm, are sleeping as best they can.
! The air in the car Is summer heat
| fetid and sitting. \ large per cent of
| these people are suffering from tuber-
}culosis or other disease, seeking the
relief OF a milder climate. The amount
| of contagion in such conditions must
be great"
| When such complaints may be voic-
| ed about conditions for travel north OF
Jacksonville, what may not be said
about conditions south of that city
after the traveller has been started or
his way to South Florida? At Jack
sonville one sees the best ears shift.
ed TO the East Coast route and the ole
and cheaper coaches awaiting the
tourist for this part of the state. II
is true that there are through Pull
mans from the East, but the dining.
car ends it's run at Jacksonville and
the tourist who desires to eat after
leaving that city for South Florida
must be content with the unsatisfac
tory and double priced lunch from tn,
| buffet, If there is one, or snatch
sandwich at a station eating house.
is not overstating the fact to say tha
railroad accommodations for passeng
ers deteriorate fully fifty per cent Oh
leaving Jacksonville for Tampa o
other points in this section. And We
the great bulk of the tourist trave
moves this way.
This is a matter which should en-
gage the attention of the boards o
trade of South Florida towns and tn,
strongest possible fight should be pu
up against this species of discrimina
tion and disregard for the safety, com
fort and convenience OF the public