The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-11-04

"SiO oNubiOhSus hi6h ""6So SAAht
are being paid in industry generally,
and particularly in the shipyards and
munition factories, the agricultural
prosperity that is the result of 81
wheat and 30-cent cotton have made
many of those who were not previous
ly in the habit of travelling feel able
to take trip, and they have yield
ed to the impulse. Concurrently the
force of ticket sellers has been de-
pleted by draft or resignation to ac-
cept other and better-paid positions,
and those who were left have had to
deal with the unprecedented increase
in the passenger traffic that the fig
ures given disclose.
Under the circumstances it is not
surprising that sometimes long lines
of people are to be found waiting at
important ticket offices. 1t is not pos
sible for unframed men to sell rail
road tickets. This work requires a
knowledge of routes, rates, time ia
bles, and connections that can only be
acquired by experience and an ability
to make change promptly and accur-
ately and to be self-controlled when
tired or eXasperated that can not be
| learned in a minute In an effoffrt to
meet the publiffc demand the United
States Railroad Administration has
opened sffchools in some of the larger
cities for the education of women as
ticket sellers, and not few graduates
have been passed from these schools
into active service, but the number of
women who have applied for this in
struction is not large, and after max
ing allowances for the drain that will
be caused by the pending draft it
seems unlikely that the ticket-selling
force can be appreciably increased in
the near future.
These conditions are frankly stated
that the public may have some IDEA of
the situation and refrain from unne-
cessary travel. The increase in pas
senger rates seems to have had no eff
! feet. Mr.. McAdoo has appealed to the
| public to avoid pleasure travelling, but
| he seems to have been unheeded. It
! is not possible for the United States
Railroad Administration to put a
quart in a pint bottle. 1t can not car
ry the soldiers who must be trans
ported comfortably and provide the
public with the luxury and accommo-
dations to which they have been pre-
viously accustomed. The former is
an imperative duty, and this is writ
ten that those who complain of the
crowded cars and the delays at ticket
offices may understand that some dis
comfort and Inconvenience are UNI
avoidable. Universal mileage books
good in the hands of bearer upon any
railroad under the control of the Di-
rector General have been devised and
are now on sale. Those who use them
will avoid the delay usually encoun-
tered in the purchase of tickets. but
the best method of relieving the stu
alton is to avoid unnecessary trayel
and preach the gospel of winning the
war by staying at home" among your
friends by both precept and example.
2. The surcharge of one-half CEN
mile now made for transportation il
parlor or sleeping cars, which charge
is in addition to the regular Pullman
fare, is another thing that provokes
many complaints. The reasonable
ness of this charge will be appreciat
ed in the light of the following com
PARSONS With one person in a bertl
the average sleeping car viii accom-
modate but q people, whereas a mod
ern coach has seats for approximate
ly 60 people. Upon the average, {
1872 square feet of space, whereas ;
passenger in a modern steel coach oc
supies but 71s square feet. The av
erage lightweight per seat in sleep
ing car is $3.50 pounds, whereas tn
average lightweight per seat in
modern steel coach is but lao
. pounds The passenger capacity of
sleeping car is, therefore, less thai
, half of the passenger capacity of tn
average coach and the engine load pc
, passenger is more than double in tn
case of Pullman cars that are com
pletely filled, and still further in
, creased when they are only half filled
as was not infrequently the case whel
a person with only one transportation
, ticket was permitted the exclusive oc
, cupation of a section. In view o
these figures the reasonableness o
! the increased charge now made 70
, the luxury of Pullman car at one
becomes apparent. 1t is not neces
sary to elaborate upon II,
) 8, The rule which makes II impos
Q sible TO reserve Pullman accommoda
! lions unknown paying for them an
Y another rule, formerly in force, whic
= made It necessary that Pullman tick
: cts not used should be sent to Chi
, oago for redemption. are the subject
Il OF many complaining letters, Thes
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