The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1917-03-23
PURCHASE TICKETS BEFORE
BOARDING TRAINS.

iCe- 1TeSlueil anu NtltSidl NA0h-
ager L. w. Baldwin, Of the Central
0f Georgia railway, has started cam
paign to influence the public to pur-
chase tickets before boarding trains.
A recent letter sent out to em-
ployes and given considerable pub
Ilcity among the travelling public, ex-
plains very logically why railway
service is benefited and the people
convenienced by the inyariable pur-
chase of transportation in advance.
His letter is as follows:
When it can be reasonably avoided,
passengers should not be permitted to
get on trains without tickets.
One of the principal reasons, that
some passengers continue paying fare
on trains, is because it is an "old GUS
TOM and not because it is more con-
venient forNthem. -
Consulting tariffs, collecting cash
fares, making change and issuing cash
fare receipts, draws the attention of
the conductor away from other very
responsible duties therefore, it is bet
ter for the passenger the employee and
the railway company, to work out a
system, where passengers will no
more think of boarding train with
out a ticket, than they will of attend
ing a theatrical performance, circus,
baseball game or any other place of
amusement, without a ticket.
Beginning February 20, 1917, this
company will inaugurate a thorough
campaign to secure the cooperation
Of the public to the end that when
prospective passengers decide to make
trip, their first thought shall be to
reach the station in ample time to
provide themselves with tickets.
There are some points where ticket
agents are not located; other places
where ticket agents are not on duty
for night trains, and there. will con-
tinue to be extreme cases, where a
passenger reaches the station at the
last minute and it will not be adj
risable to hold train on the eve of
departing, until the passenger has
time to purchase a ticket. In such
cases it will of course be necessary
to make collection on the train in ac
cordance with Passenger Tariff No.
A-509.
It is fully appreciated by the man
agement that it will take considerable
time and patience to impress upon
the patrons and also upon our en-
ployes, that in nearly every case the
old custom of paying fare on trains
instead of at the ticket office can be
eliminated.
With the hearty cooperation of
agents and trainmen, this company
has been able to overcome many I'M
desirable practices, such as excessive
loss and damage to freight and bag.
rage, damage to live stock on right of
way, unwarranted overtime in train
md station service and has also ma
.erially reduced accidents of every de-
5cription. All of this has led us to be-
iieve that you will enthusiastically
assist in eliminating the practice of
passengers getting on trains without
tickets. which practice has proven
very detrimental to both the company
and it's valued employees.
To accomplish the desired results
,, will be a huge task for station mas
ters, ticket agents, passenger conduc-
tors and trainmen. Recognizing this,
have directed division officials that
special attention must be given this
subject and suggestions solicited from
agents and passenger conductors, as to
whether or not additional facilities are
necessary, whether or not more help is
needed or touching anything which,
in their opinion, might be Of assist
ance in speedily bringing the public
to a realization that it is highly pre-.
ferable from their own standpoint as
well as the railways to purchase
tickets in advance, rather than pay
on the trains.
To be successful in this movement.
it is essential that employees be in
hearty accord with it and In explain
ing to the public that tickets should
| be secured, the utmost courtesy should
be employed and it should be made
clear that fares on trains are at a
higher rate than when tickets are pur-
chased.
You are asked to bear in mind that
it is not our intention to annoy or in
convenience those patronizing our
trains, nor is it desired to attempt
compulsion, in every case for passen-
gers to provide themselves with
tickets, at points where ticket offices
are open. If any attempt is made to
make it compulsory, you would nc
doubt. occasionally encounter a person
who would feel that his rights were
being imposed upon and argue that il
is one Of his prerogatives to decide fol
himself, where he will pay his railroad
fare.
am thoroughly convinced that you
shall receive the hearty cooperation
of the public and that YOU win accom-
nIish the desired results.