The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1916-05-05
PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION COMES
Spend Whole Day in Salmon in
Hearing Complaints About Rail-
road Service---Other Matters
Taken Up.

road Serviee---Other Matters
Taken Up.
The Utilities Comm Issioners OF the
state Of Idaho, Alex p. Ramstedt
John W. Graham and A L. Freehaf-
er, came 70 Salmon last Sunday night
to hear complaints that had been
made to them about the train service
OF the Gilmore and Pittsburg rail-
road and TO see for themselves Just
what this train service ID.
The day Sunday was spent on a trip
over the Gilmore branch and late ia
the evening the party arrived here.
A special train was fur 1ished by the
railroad officials, who came along to
See that the Commissioners suffered
no unnecessary discomfort and dan
gers such as he average passenger
must put uP with when ne ira wells In
a mixed traiu along with cattle and
coal and dynamite.
G. A. Arney, Industrial agent of
the Northern Pacific, and Col. joel
l.. PreiSt Of the general staff of the
Oregon Short line accompanied the
Gil uors and PittsburR or1icials who
we're General Manager O. p. Johnson
and Sup, rintendent ". n. Bickler.
The special passenger cars were kept
here till Tuesday morning when they
were coupled to the regular train and
bore the visitors forth, thus affording
them tire whole day Monday to look
up matters affecting the welfare and
progress OF Salmon and which had
been brought To their attention.
Primarily it was the running of
the trains that the Commission came
to SEE about. The complaint charged
that excessive fares were exacted
passengers being taxed up mileage
beyond their destination and starting
station; poor Accommodations ana lack
Of safety for travellers; dllapidated
fences that allowed stock to range at
will on tile right OF way to the delay
OF trains as we'll as to imperil trav-
eleIs ;dilapidate1 and insanitary ears
lack of facilities for the watering of
stock for shipment; that mixed
trains carried dynamite Ia large buik
to the peril Of persons compelled to
travel in the same train, and further
more that the schedules we're 50 ar
ranged as 10 afford nothing ike pub
lie accommodation, for Inst ance IL be-
ing shown, that whereas there vas
sO-called daily service for Gilmore,
between that place and Salmon it Te-
qGired almost a week for passenger
~ make the trip and To get q response
to letter from one place to the
other IT required sometimes more
than Il week. There could, OF Course,
he no complaint lodged With the state
commission as To the interstate mall
service, or lack of a mail service.
from which salmon has been long
suffering. II was minated that
remedy for this condition must br
sought from the national Int sta te
commission, though 1t may be that
other effective remedies may he at
hand
The complaint was made by the
we'll known attorney, W. II. o Brien,
acting for u committee Of citiLets s,
aud Sss complete and comprehensive,
covering all the points in contro-
versy with the railroad company that
could be raised before the Idaho
commission and presenting them
most strongly The work of Mr.
- 8rien and other members of the
committees associated with him af.
fords an instance of the hest sort af
public service that falls TO tne lot
of any man 10 perform.
All the points raised we're present
ed In testimony submitted tO the
commission ut hearing In the CITY
hail, A {. Cherry having volunteer
ed Ia the temporary absence Of Mr..
O. Rrien 10 hegin IL In behalf OF tie
people and senator Whitcomb sp.
pearing for the Railrca1 company a.
tier retained attorney. Most OF the
allegations affecting the railroad ser
wee complained of we're covered In
the testimony Of Postmaster Roy b.
Herndon. other witnesses on tire
stand in the sane connection we're
+. Melvin and " c. smith " y.
BickleT sss put on as the one railroad
Wituess. He submitted q mass Of ig-
ures intended 10 sbow that whereas
the Idaho portion OF the road, winch
WIS asking for improved service, Nas
. dead weight and every dollar from
II east the c mpanN a dollar AID If
teen cents. tie Montana portion y As
shaWn T. ne producer Of y alth to