Smyrna times., 1919-06-11
SMYRNA BUSINESS MEN At
BROAD STREET TO PROTEST
MEET ELISHA LEE, GENERAL
MANAGER PENNA. R. R. co.
Enter Emphatic Protest and Demand
Restoration of Full and Complete
Train Schedule-EncOuraged.

Train Schedule-EncOurage
President of Smyrna Town Council
Lewis NJ. Price, Benjamin A. HAZEL,
Samuel J. Reynolds, Walter o. Hof-
fecker. Hervey P. Hall, Harry B.
Grieves, Howard R. Jones, William
G.. Roe, C. Leland Ha1monson, V.
Law Phillips and Esley NJ. Rust, rep
resenting the special committee, and
other citizens who were asked to go
along, went to Broad Street Station
in Philadelphia, last Friday, and had
two hours conference with General
Manager Elisha Lee, of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company, and entered
their emphatic protest against taking
certain trains off the Smyrna Branch
Railway schedule, and demanded that
all trains be restored as they were
before the pairing off program was
nut in force. The committee took
along with them United States Sena-
tor Josiah o. Wolcott, who introduced
the Smyrna delegation to Manager
Lee, and stood by them in their de-
mands for better service. 1t had al
ready been Investigated that the Fed
eral Railroad Administration at
Washington knew nothing about the
orders affecting Smyrna Branch, and
had not interfered in the least. The
committee were graciously received
by Manager Lee, and in the heart to
heart discussion, he assured the
Smyrna business men that the Com
pany had no idea of abandoning the
Smyrna Branch passenger service,
which seemed to be at variance with
the impression handed out by the
Delaware Division chiefs, when they
advised Smyrna to get busy and es-
tablish bus line or some arrange
ment, declaring the present schedule
had no permanency. When the Smyrna
Committee stated their grievance,
Manager Lee saw at once that Smyr-
ma had a case and said he would have
Superintendent Smith, of the Della
ware Division visit Smyrna again to
see what could be done. The Smyr-
mans asked for a restoration of the
708 a. m. north, the 8.25 a. m. south
and the 6.13 2. m. north, and in fact,
all trains as they were before any
hoo
Put Up Strong Case For Smyrna.
A strong case for Smyrna was put
up by nearly every member of the
committee who had something to say
Of Smyrna's business interests, school
interests and other reasons why
Smyrna should continue to enjoy q
full and unlimited service which hac
been secured them for more than
fifty years. Manager Lee impressed
the delegation that the Railroad
Company wanted to satisfy Smyrna
and was quick to see that some read
justment was necessary. Yesterday
Superintendent Smith, of the Della
ware Division came to Smyrna to lool
into the situation, but did not NEE
the committee. 1t is understood M
will be back in a few days with
new schedule he has outlined. Smyrn;
business men. however, have made /
emphatic that they will be- satisfied
with nothing outside of full restor
alton of all trains from the 7O8 a. m
to and including the 800 p. m. soutl
bound trains.
Demand Full and Complete Service
Hearing that Superintendent Smlt
was in town yesterday and would b
back again in a few days, the Busi
ness Mems Committee met in l.. NJ
Prices Office at nine o'clock thu
morning, and voted to "stand pat,
and that for a full and complete tral
schedule on Smyrna Branch to NEE
all train connections on the main lint
except the midnight trains. The vot
was unanimous. At the big Chautar
qua tent yesterday when it was mer
toned, the "stand pat" program wa
greeted with cheers and applause Of
thousand or more people. Smyrna an
4 Vicinity is awake to the matter an
will continue to demand its rights.