Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1914-10-23

DlltlON vi AllN 1NaocSiiN ~
with this community have objec-
tionable features, probably the
most striking and certainly the
greatest amount of personal dis
comfort is produced by its passen-
ger service. Some pretence of
accommodation is made for passer-
gers leaving Roanoke junction
on Nos. II and u and the Shoo-
Flys i, e., they have the protec-
ton of a dingy, squalid, cramped
and illkept waiting room as
shelter against the elements.
This accommodation, however
is of such nature that it is gen
orally dispensed with, except in
the most inclement weather, by
people at all fastidious.
AT night there is no pretence
even Of accommodation. Come
rain, or hail or fire or snow" the
Seaboard's patrons have to wait
for its trains without shelter,
without lights, without heat.
There is no way of obtaining in
formation in regard to the arri-
val of trains. A wreck or a
washout may have occurred and
every train on the division may
be running five hours late, but
there is no way for the passengers
to know this except by the very
primitive process of waiting to
see.
1t is inconvenient, it is uncom-
Portable, some months of the
year and under some weather
conditions, it is dangerous. AS
the policy of a public service
corporation towards a center of
population of this size it is un-
heard of and barbarous. 1t is
only necessary for the reader to
picture to himself condition
which is very possible many
nights in the year; i: e., a cold,
snowy or rainy night when the
train is several hours late, to
realize that it is a distinct men,
ace to health.
OF course. under conditions
like those outlined above, very
few people would think of leav-
ing on a Seaboard train from
Roanoke junction unless it were
a case Of vital necessity. 1t Of
ten happens, however, that
people are compelled to take the
night trains at Roanoke junction,
and when such is the case dur
ing the winter months, men,
women and children are compell-
ed to undergo hardship and
actual suffering.
We know of one suit that is
being brought against the Sea-
board Air Line by a lady who
was forced to stand out in the
rain at Roanoke Junction wait
ing for train and who as a re-
suit of such exposure contracted
pneumonia and was desperately
i'll for some time. 1t will be
well for the Seaboard, if no men,
Der of the jury which tries the
case has ever been compelled to
leave Roanoke Junction on a
night train.
We have taken occasion once
before to call to the attention of
the people of this community
the deplorable lack of service
given passengers at Roanoke
Junction. 1t is a state of affairs
that can be remedied by the con-
certed efforts of the representa-
tive people of this community.
We are entitled to, and should
force the Seaboard to give US, a
clean, comfortable waiting room,
lighted at night, heated during
the cold weather months and
with a night operator on duty to
provide information in regard to
the arrival of trains, to sell tick
cts and to check baggage.
At a recent meeting of the
Board of Trade of Roanoke Rap
ids Township the discrepancies
of the Seaboard's service in both
freight and passenger depart
ments were discussed at some
length, and a committee was
appointed to investigate condi-
tons thoroughly and make ur-
gent representation to the State
Corporation Commission in re-
gard to the many needed i'm
provements. These measures of
the Board of Trade should be
supported by every citizen in the
community.
1t is worse than useless to ap-
peal to the Seaboard officials
abont the matter They know
the conditions at Roanoke juno
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