The sun., 1919-07-15
PIN PRICKS IN TRAVEL.
Montreal Man Points Ont m Few
Needed Reforms


TON OF THE SUN-Sr: A pin is a iittle
thing; but 1t will make a big, strong
man jump high and emit vivid blue lam
suage II firmly and unexpectedly thrust
into his skin. Now for the moral-as
applied to Canada and the United
States:
II is all very weli-very necessary, in
lact-for large governmental matters to
Do given due attention in Ottawa and in
washington But want to see the PIN
pricks eradicated. too. want to see an
eHort put forth-and particularly by
railroad managers and post Office exec,-
u'es-'o make intercourse between the
Two countries as convenient and plens-
ant as possible: and you can't have
elther a convenient" or a pleasant"
trip anywhere with a pin prickine AZ
you every little while-now. can voup
To be explicit The other dav tho,,,.
been in New York; took an evcr,ns
ram IRON Your city for Toronto II
was good train, and got me in on
.'he OUT couldn't have mn trunk s,nt
~ INC same train. The official at your
1rand Central Station said: "Orders
are not to send baggage on that train
nei send II on the next one" I found
.ne ioiiowing morning, before reaching
| toronto, that there was half a car a.,
80. ram, intended for baggage. but en-
tireiy empty. A baggage master was in
c"aree' said to him: Couldn't trunks
De brought along here all risht?" And
| ne answered: IT don't see WHY moi, ;.
Inc consequence was that, as important
papers, necessary for me to have. wera
IN my trunk. I lost about four hours
IN toronto after arrival. waiting for that
| Tram IN which my trunk was
permitted TO come
wen, that's a pin prick. II ourb, "a
De ended; for 1t wasn't confined to me
II was general practice applicable IN
to everybody. -
rake now. the train service between
ottawa and New York. Going IN m
ottawa from New York city. there,a
regular wait of 80 minutes at Coteau
.,',l every morning. Apparently
u'atS because the Ottawa-New York
service hasn't been adjusted so as To
NJ IN smoothly and promptly with the
Montreai-Toronto service which crosses
it at Coteau
Ihats another pin prick II. too.
ought 10 be ended
now consider the service from Ottawa
| 10 New York. The last time I caua
! ~" ua!s OF so ago. the time>
table called for a th!rty-hye r,,nut.
Inger' at Coteau Junction. and ftake q
sood brace. now. to meet what's coming,
an hours wait at Rouses Point Nina
you these were not accidental DELAYS
nut regular. every day, dovn-on-,ha.
timetable holdups: And not on a back-
WOODS run. but on the only through
route from the capital of one countrv
10 'ne biggest city OF the other country.
nil
table jab. '0'
a word as to food on dining cars on
this side Of the line, now. Believe mo
IN an experienced traveller. and I'm
not so foolish as to cxpect the Garth,
on diner; in fact. my idea OF IN.
most satisfactory dining car is one
mat frankly cuts down It's variety
nut keeps Its quality high and fine
lhere are lots OF things that no dining
car should ever try 10 serye--with ~.
limited kitchen equipment. A long bill
or rare on dining car Is lauRhablv
ABSURD But there are some things thar
dining car can serve as well as thew
can be served anywhere-cold meats
bread and butter, berries. tea and coffee
mix ana cream, ice cream. and a few
other simple staples. Going from, this
city TO New York on Wednesday las,
] had very unsatisfactory luncheon ON
TINS side OF the line; hut my dinner.
| eaten about an hour before reaching
New YORK, was eNcellent-good, simple
tood-hest possible qual!ty-Weu and
promptly served and quietly but cour
teously looked after" by the supertn-
tendent OF the car-who did not content
hlinseR with a lofty and far-off view
OF things but actually walked up and
down his car and personally saw TO ~
that his guests were taken care OF
II was more than meal-it was a
rest and tonic After a hot, 12-hour
ride, 1t landed me in your Grand Central
station not wited' and tagged, but 'as
nj as a fiddle"
Look over the dining car management.
then, MessrS Railroad Managers, n Won
please. end take all the pin pricks or.
OF IT,
Then, there's tho mail service between
the two countries Oh, YES: I know
We've had n big war--and things are
disorganized-and men are hard to get
and so on. and so on. That's all under.
stood and agreed TO. want to be
reasona BILE ought 10 be. OF course
But MT Post ONCE. are you absolutely
sure that YOU are really doing your
very Level best to get letters and pack
ages across the line quickly? Ara you?
| don't say you're not, but ] do saw
that there's a lot OF slowness about tho
service in these days. Maybe IL could
be speeded up bit II you'd try. Can
il he done?
Big pin prick TO be smoothed out there
this post Office one.
Now. enough OF thls-for the moment,
anyhow. Don't think I'm Eloating over
little shortcomings and dellghtlng In
finding fault. Not a bit OF Il. I'm
az strong booster for increasing good
relations between your country and mine
! as can be. In my business l have to
DO my level best to please my customers
and not stick pins into them All
I'm asking Is that the fellows who fix
! IN railroad timetables, and run din
ing cars, and shoot the mails around.
will do likewise bv the thousands OF
: people who cross the line every year
: between your country and mine.
VIII they stop the pin pricks' They
ought to. for the International good that
} It will do MoNTREALER
Montreal. July s.