The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-07-10
PARCEL SERVICE IS
FOR EMERGENCIES
on Traction Passenge Cars as
Special Express Cars Are
Operated.

Several business houses having oc-
castor to use the passenger car pack
age service Of the traction company
have complained that In shetr cpin-.
ION the charges made are excessive
AT their suggestion, therefore, the
EClarksburg Board OF Trade has made
an investigation of the question and
carrying OF packages on passenger
cars is a class of business neither re-
Equired of the traction company nor
sought, but service performed Tor
emergency demands only and at an
excess fare The traction company
points out that the service. while det-
rimental to the passenger business
OF the system, is being continued to
certain cases OF emer-
Egency 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 thetpassenger ser
vice For this reason there has arts
en- a demand upon the company to
carry on its passenger cars packages
and parcels which are placed in the
care Of its conductors and delivered
to persons who call for the same at
designated stations. For this service
a double fare is always charged. Also
on passenger cars a line OF per1sn-
able goods is carried. such as MIX.
lice cream and berries, but this Is on
II the front end Of the car where great
care does not have to be exercised
Causes Much Trouble.
The traction company advises tnat
there is no money in carrying pack
ages Entrusted to It's conductors even
|at the double fare charged but that
this service really has to be peri orn1-
ed for humanitarian reasons. as ma
iority of such packages are from doc
tors and druggists and must pc als-
patched in haste to sufferers along
the line. Then there are emergency
orders for machine parts and sup
plies sent to mines and to the OIL ana
gas fields which cannot we'll pe nelo
back for the express car service.
These are the reasons for the ser
vice continuing. The traction com
pany's representative says tnaI p ~
sibly the public does not realize the
troubles occasioned by such parcel
business Passenger business Is heavy
at most times on our sytem and our
conductors have all they can attend
70 watching their signals. their sta
lions, and looking after their pas
sengers. If they are loaded down with
packages they are apt to neglect their
regular duties and cause accidents 1t=
and delays"
n Is Often Abused.
1t was pointed out that the service
is often abused, patrons insisting that
packages be carried on passenger cars
when shipments by the express ser
3vica would ha inst as efficient. I'M
fact, 1T was stated that the double
fare is charged to discourage the IN
discriminate use OF passenger cars TOR
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 q public favor
company is small and is always
earned at a loss.
Under the circumstances. there
fore, It does not appear, In the op1n-l
ion 81 the board 81 trade, that there
is any Just cause to complain OF the
rates charged for this service. 4