The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-17
A KANSAN IN NEW YORK.
CHAPTER XXI.
Congestion of Travel and Traffic.

ceiving luggage or packages OF freight,
has an object lesson in the congestion
of travel and traffic.
On his last trip to New York the
write: was gone from home eight
nights and seven days. OF the eight
nighto he spent one in the hotel at
New York, two 1t the Union League
Club in Philadelphia and five on Pull
mans OF the latter five. he was
obliged to take upper berths three
times and once begged for an upper
berth after paying Sc excess fare on
a train between New York and Chi
cago, which it was necessary for him
to take to make his scheduled con-
nections.
This latter train is known as the
Manhattan Limited" of the Pennsyl-
vania Lines. 1t leaves New York City
at p. m. reaching Chicago at 2
o'clock the next afternoon, giving the
Topeka man six hours in Chicago be
fore taking night train out, arriving
at Topeka the following morning.
Altho he had wired from Philadel-
phia two days in advance for reser.
walton on this train, he was told when
he tried to obtain a ticket that there
was no reservation. all of the berths
had teen sold; nothing but Pullman
cars were carried on that particular
train.
A lively colloquy ensued between
| the Topeka man and the New York
railway representative. He at first
declined to sell a ticket even at the
/ Sc excess. Tho traveller was insistent
and said he must take that train. The
ticket agent teleYhoned someone ap-
! parently higher in authority, asking
what she uld he done. He was told to
sell me ticket. If I were willing to
take my chance on getting a berth
on tie train. was.
When I approached the Pullman
conductor of that train and told him
my predicament, he looked over
his charts and said: There is an
upper not called for" got it and
made the schedule. altho the train did
not arrive in Chicago on time. 1t was
an hour late and each passenger re-
ceived 81 rebate.
1
one night. there suddenly developed
the necessity of doing some writing.
The berths were all made up: there
was no place to put the portable ia
BILE, SO the porter gave it to me in the
made-up berth. This incident, how
ever. is scheduled to appear in Chap
ter XXXV to be printed next Thurs
day.
In going from Washington to Phila-
delphia I got the scribenda scabiei
or something akin to that sort of
thing, again and wanted to do some
more writing. Every seat in the Pull
mans was sold and every seat in the
parlor car was sold. 1 stood on the
platform near the steps of the
parIor car, getting a little better
acquainted with the conductor. He
refused probably a half dozen others
besides myself; but I was a little more
persistent than the others. who had
passed on up to the coaches.
After breaking the ice with the
Pullman conductor, told him I would
| very -huC1l ling u -AdtS q oCdl al LIE
car, would like to do a little writing
He said: MY friend. I tell you what
I'll do. You go into the smoking
apartment Of this car; do the best you
can, and 1 will get d seat and table
j for you after we leave Baltimore, Al
large number of these passengers
get off there. You will still have two
houru into phiIa daIpbia
This was done.
When I got into the smoking apart.
ment it was crowded, but there wa:
room for One more and the occupant.
moved over and gave me a seat.
;. Pretty soon a soldier came in. He
had lines on his face and two on his
shoulder. From the former thought
he was a veteran. and from the latter
I noted he was captain. immedi.
but he declined it. thought he mus
be five or six years older than 1, SO
said to him: I'VE win let the oldes
man take the seat"
WELL" said he, II am ST."
! He was several years younger thar
I and I had to keep my place. accord
ing to the agreement; but q young
man who had a seat declared he woult
, not see a soldier standing; SO we botf
, were seated.
, When Baltimore was reached Their,
was a general exodus and I almost ha,
} a special car from there on.
The above refers to the congestion
, Of travel. Here is something about tn,
} congestion of traffic from personal ex
. perienee:
]. Taking the train at Topeka, think
ing my overcoat was in the automobil
4 with the suitcase and umbrella, dis
! covered that the coat was missing; /
had been left at the house. I aske,
member Of the family to be sure T.
z send that overcoat On the next trail