Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-11-14
BLOOM RESENTS
 PAPER STORIES Says He's Been Placed in False Light in Regard to
 Depot Proposition.
M':KNIGHT MIsQUOTED?
Secretary Cf Chamber of Commerce Writes Railroad Commissioners, Urging Order to Iron
 Mountain.

That the Iron Mountain railroad will not make needed improvements to the union station here until forced by the Arkansas railroad commission to do so, is the opinion of E. B. Bloom. secretary of the Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce, who has led the fight fer better depot facilities for the city.
 MT. Bloom feels that articles ap- bearing in afternoon papers of Little Rcek and Pine Bluff place him in a false light, inasnuch as in these arti- cles Chairman Mcknight of the rail- read commission is quoted as saying that unless he heard further from Mir. Rlooom, the commission would order the Iron Mountain to make the im- prcvements needed and demanded. Because these articles make it appear that Mr. Bloom is standing between the railroads and the commission, the secretary of the local Chamber Of Commerce last night indited the fol- lowing:
 "W. F. Mcknight, chairman Arkansas
 Railroad Commission, Little ROCK,
 Ark
 Dear Sir:-Ths afternoons paner, here. under Little Rock date line, quotes you as follows:
 Chairman w. F. Mcknight of the Arkansas Railroad commission is de- fnrminoG that the union station at Pine Bluff shall be improved, and, de- snite letter received from F. B. Bloom. secretary of the Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce to the effect that it was said the railroads would make the improvements without a mandatory order from the commits sicn. he expects to issue the order inn mediatoly unless concrete evidence of the railroads promise is forthcoming.
 Unless I hesr further from MT. Pleom in regard to the improvement said Mir. Mcknight, the order will be issued. The city of Pine Bluff has been too patient with the railroads The railroads officials must be reconcilcd to the fact that the Pine Bluff station is far from adeauate.s
 "'The railroads must build an addi tjonal "L" to the station for the ac of freight and express business. and the rooms now used for that purpose converted into negro waiting rooms. The present negro waiting room must be thrown with the white waiting room to make it large enough to accommodate the crowds. Umbrella sheds" must be built over the track from the depot to Main street, as we'll as short dis tance south of the station.
 "Mr. Blooms letter to MT. Mcknight siad he had heard the railroads were to start tho work immediately
 "I do not for moment believe that you have been correctly quoted. Ger tainly I have never intimated by word CT letter that I had any such confi- dence ii the present management of the Iron Mountain railroad. l do not believe they will make one dollars worth of improvements until forced to do so by your honorable commission.
 "The present station is a disgrace to this city and to the state and is a subject of adverse criticism and ridi- cule by 'non-residents and ,prospec- tors almost daily.
 Patient and suffering people of this city pray that you will make the crder for improvement without further delay. Very sincerely yours,
 "E. B. BLOOM. Secretary Pine Bluff Chamber of
 Commerce"