The chronicle=news., 1913-01-18
CLAYTON SEEKS
BETTER TRAIN
:" SERVICE

Clayton is To receive ip the near fuf-
IRE some recognition Mn connection
with better train service and railroad
facilities was assured Wednesday
night n, II mass meeting OF the citi-
zens OF the town, at which were pres
ent u number OF Colorado 4 Southern
officials md members OF III" State
Corporation Commission.
The meeting was the result of II
petition presented 10 the corporation
commission some three weeks ago
asking that the road he compelled TO
give Clayton n day passenger train
service.
Wednesday n special train arrived
In the town bearing General Supcrin-
tendent Wclch OF Denver. Division
Superintendent Abrams and General
In company with Hon. o. l.. Owen. h
member OF the corporation commits
sion: II. r. EfvIcn. stat. land com
missioner OF Santa Fc. and other In
iucntial citizens Of the state. for tn"
purpose or investigating the com
plants which have been lodged
against tho e. & :. and Its manage
meni.
The meeting Wednesday night was
called and presided over by Mayor
DR.. Charlton. who made the npcning
address and stated the object Of the
meeting. Talks were mad" by other
!oca, prominent citizens. including
t.I. 10
Donald. Joseph GIN and i'az Val
verde, In which tn" needs an wishes
OF the townSpcoplc w"r" mad" plain,
Each OF the roads officials took n
turn In explaining their roads par
ticular position In connection with
their division work. and laid con
siderable stress upon the claim that
day passenger service through Clay
ton had never paid and could not be
made to pay. hut Rav" assnranc" that
they were willing NJ all times to do
all Ia their power 10 Civ" tn" town
the hest possible service conslsicnt
with good business policy. Amcng
other things promised they nSrc" To
place n telephone In the station. to
keep water At the Stockyards for the
use Of shippers OF live stock. to pail
the passenger coach on the local
freight up to the depot. and other
wise look after minor details for the
convcn,enc. or ihos. having buGi-
ness with the road. They also stated
that they would W" their best Gu
deayors TO secure day passenger
I train service. but could give no GER
,aiuty as to the results In th!s con-
ncction.
The matter OF freight rates was
another important feature OF the
meeting which was discussed pro
and con by the citizens. III" corpor-
alton commission officials and Of
ficials Of the road. 1t was clearly
shown hy those In n position to know
that both freight and express rates
in many instances wcro cNorbitant
and not consistent with the actual
cost OF carrying. The corporation
commission officials laid much stress
on this point and stated that since
the matter of freight rates was some
thing which comes directly under
their supervision for Adjustment.
they explained tina, II nj! complaints
or differences OF this nature were
laid before that body they would re-
ceive not only prompt and careful at
tcn,ion hut proper adjudication.
II Is a well known fact. according
to the Clayton Citizen. that Clayton
Is one Of the best towns. considering
its size. along the e. & $. road. and
has US much or moro business with
the railroad company than many
towns with n far greater population.
which fact is due principally to the
vast territory from which ii draws
trade: ask any travelling salesman
and he will readily tell you that the
Clayton passenger traffic both ways
is greater than any other town be-
tween Amarillo and Trinidad. aud
yet the facilities for getting in and
out OF the town are the most made
rua,e along the line.