The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-07-10
"a ERVICE IS
FOR EMER GENCIES
On Traction Passenger Cars as
Special Express Cars Are
Operated.

Several business houses having oc-
caston to use the passenger car pack
age service OF the traction company
have complained that in .hetr opins
ION the charges made are excessive
At their suggestion, lneresor:. the
tClarksburg Board Of Trade has MADE
an investigation OF the question and
is informed by the traction company
carving of packages on passenger
cars is a class OF. business neither re-
ouired of the traction company nor
sought. but service performed for
emergency demands only and at an
excess fare. The traction company
points out that the service. while def-
rimental to the passenger business
OF the system, is being continued to
accommodate certain cases of emer-
gency that continue to come. up daily
Double Fare Charged.
The company further explains that
express cars for its freight, express
and package business are operated
regularly. but. of course these ex-
press cars cannot be operated hourly
as is the case with the passenger SER
vice For this reason there has aris-
en- q demand upon thu company to
carry on its passenger cars packages
and parcels which are placed In the
care of its conductors and delivered
ia persons who call for the same at
DESIGNATED stations For this service
b double fare is always charged. Also
nm passenger cars line OF perish
able goods is carried, such as milk,
ice cream and berries, but this Is on
the front end of the car where great
care does not have to be exercised
Causes Much Trouble. .
The traction company ADVISES IaaI
b, fNpIs
ages Entrusted to its conductors even
at the double fare charged but that
this service really has to be perform
ed for humanitarian reasons, as ma
iorfty of such packages are from doc
TORS and druggists and must be dfs-
patched in haste to sufferers along
tl1e line. Then there are emergency
orders for machine parts and sup,
niles sent to mines and to the OIL ana
gas fields which cannot Well pc n !
back for the express car service:
These are the reasons for the ser
vice continuing. The traction COM
pany's represent atiyes says ina. p y. :.
sfily the public does not realize the g
troubles occasioned by such parcel
business. Passenger business is heavy
al most times on our sytem and our
conductors have all they can attend
10 watching their signals, their sta
lions, and looking after their pas
sengers. If they are loaded down with
nackages they are apt to neglect their
regular duties and cause accidents
and delays"
IL was pointed out that the service
is often abused, patrons insisting that
packages be carried on passenger cars
when shipments by the express ser I.
fact. It was stated that the double
fare is charged to discourage the in
discriminate use of passenger cars for
parcel carrying and to force the pub.
lie to use this service only In case OF
extreme emergency; that the service
is maintained only as public favor
and that the revenue it gains for the
company is small and IS always
earned at a loss.
Under the circumstances, there
fore, it does not appear. in the opin-
ion of the board of trade, that there
is any lust cause to complain Of the
rates charged for this service.