The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-19
Relief Sought BY Requesting
McAdoo and Fletcher 90
Lend Aid.
BIG CONFERENCE
AT CITY HALL.
Capt. Bennett and Major Hughes
Attend adm Speak on Ex-
listing Conditions.

Secretary VIM. G. McAdoo. as rail-
road administrators. and Senator Dun
can T. Fletcher Will be appealed 10 in
an effort TO remedy existing transoor-
ta1ion troubles on the Bayshore line
OF the Pensacola Electric Company.
The proposition to take the matter an
with the railroad acminlstrator Mas
for the purpose of trying to secure
with as little loss OF time as possible
at present unused rolling stock proba-
bly, some obsolete steam engsnes and
DR.. Blocker, as president OF the Pen
sacola Chamber of Commerce. stated
that he would appeal To Senator
Fletcher in an effort to try and rem-
edy conditions
This was about the result OF a con-
ference held in the council room OF
the city hall yesterday when. among
those present, were Captain Rennett.
commanding the Naval Air station.
and Colonel Hughes, commanding Fort
Barrancas. Both of these government
organizations are served BY the elac-
trio line, and each of the commanding
officers wanted action without delay.
Both of them spoke on the question.
Captain Bennett particularly address
ing his remarks to Manager Thos j.
Hanlons who offered one exploration
after the other, in reply 10 suuestions
- to why the line had not been inn
proved: as TO why there had been "A
delay in pressing request promised
last year. and as to the proper dts
patch OF trains from the Naval Air
Station. The manager appeared to he
willing TO do all possible TO rem
edy conditions. Attorneys for the
electric company were present and
Mr. Yonge offered an explanation at
one time respecting the efforts Of the
company TO meet unprecedented in
crease or traffic on the BayshoTe Iira
commissioners We're on hand also
the mayor presiding, as well as tbs
committee representing the workmen
at the naval station. Each OF the lat
ter had something pertinent 70 the !s-
sue to say during the meeting but the
most persistent representative of the
workingmen was Mr.. Kelley. who let
the assemblage know that he was
there in behalf of the workfngnnan aua
that he was going to look after their
interests to the last ditch
DIR. Blocker was there as president
of the Chamber Of Commerce ard ne
promised to do whatever possible "a
a condition which appears ~
be getting worse rather than beina
bettered. DR.. Blocker stated thas Il
was his Intention 10 stop al the teIe-
graph office after he left the meeting
and take up the question with Senator
Fletcher. 1t was the opinion. there
fore. that with all these agencies
working, some needed reforms VIII
soon be forthcoming.
The Workmen Suffer
In the meantime the workmen are
being subjected TO Inconvenience OF
every kind. Some of them told OF
having to wait hour for trains to
pick them up 10 come TO the city ag-
ter working an hour or two overtime
in the station. The men, when they
work two hours overtime leave the
yard at $40 o'clock. Tt was explained
that on more than one occasion they
have been compelled to sit and wait
more than an hour for trains, while
others made the statement that one
Of the defects in the line Is improper
dispatch of trains from the station.
At times, IL was cited trains would
pull out with compare lively empty
coaches. while scores of worlernen
were on the way to the waiting sta
tion. The operators OF the trains had
been given orders TO move and they
went, despite the protests Of the work.
men.
Others complained of the transfer
The biggest complaint how
ever, appeared to be that the electric
was giving, In more than one
instance, the right Of way to freight
and at times sidetracking passenger
filed cars for this purpose. One man
cited an instance where a heavily
loaded train was side-tracked at PAL
metto Beach while freight train Ia
boriously struggled past
Capt Bennett, speaking directly TO
the manager of the electric company.
inquired specifically what efforts were
being made to secure the needed cars
and he was told that every effort was
being made. Capt. Bennett then men
toned. and called attention 10 the fact
with emphasis, that something had to