Smyrna times., 1925-07-29
SMYRNA PROTESTS REMOVING
R.R. PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE
SEND LETTER SAYING "PROPOS-
AL is NOT ACCEPTABLE"
Action Taken Following Conference in
Wilmington With r. V. Massey,
General Manager Of 2. r. r. Co.

,
General Manager of p. R,R. Co.
The discontinuance of the passenger
train service on Smyrna Branch Rail-
way, part of the system of the
Delaware Division of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad is still the upper most
topic Of conversation among the peo-
pie Of Smyrna and vicinity and no
where is the proposition of Superin-
tendent Sinclair backed up by General
Manager Robert V. Massey, found to
be acceptable to the Smyrna commun-
lty. Even former Smyrnians, a num-
Der Of whom are successful business
men in the world, feel that Smyrna is
not being treated right. One state
ment is chat it is short sighted policy
on the part of the Pennsylvania Rail
road not to want to cater to such
towns as Smyrna where there is a
pronounced effort to building and pro-
gress as shown by the two handsome
bank buildings, fire hall and other i'm
prOvements now going on in Smyrna.
Smyrna has enjoyed train passenger
service ever since the Delaware Rail
road was built and because good roads
and automobiles have brought about
a change in methods of travel, the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company want
to take the passenger train off on the
plea that they are losing $4,000 a year
While the company will not quote
facts or figures what they are making
on the freight end of the Smyrna
proposition, the feeling generally is
they more than make up in freight
what they lose in passengers. They
agree to keep open the Smyrna sta
ton, a one-man station, for freight
and to continue the freight service
both car load lots and the L. c. l..
business but want to subsidize a bus
service in competition with jitneys to
take the place of the train which
would not be part Of their system
and which would as readily be taken
off as put on if it did not pay, leaving
Smyrna in such a contingency with
out any passenger service whatever.
Along with the bus substitution they
agree, it is understood, to hyphenate
the name of the Clayton Railroad
Station anl call it "Clayton-Smyrna"
so that Smyrna would still be on the
railroad map. The committee on the
part of the Smyrna Chamber of Com
merce entered their protest before
General Manager r. V. Massey in
Supt. Sinclair's office last Wednesday
morning and plead for the present ar
rangement of a distinct passenger
train service, such as Smyrna has en-
loved, to continue unchanged. Mr..
Massey and Mr.. Sinclair seem deter
mined that the passenger train ser
vice must be discontinued but no date
has vet been announced when it will
be put into effect. Upon their return
from Wilmington the Railroad Com
mittee on the part of the Smyrna
Chamber of Commerce took up the
proposition with the citizens of Smyr-
ma with the result that the proposed
plans was emphatically declared not
to be acceptable. The Chamber OF
Commerce authorized w. f. Matthews
its secretary, to forward the following
letter to Mr.. Massey. 1t reads as fol-
lows.
Mr.. R. V. Massey. General Manager.
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad. Eastern DIVISION
Broad Street Station,
Philadelphia. Pa.
Dear Sir:- -
IJpon our return from hearing the
n reference
- Jiscontinuing the passenger service by rail
on the Smyrna Branch. the committee from
tbe Chamber of Commerce finds that your pro-
pogal Is not acceptable to this community
Hoping that you can see your way e'e"' ~
continue our present service. l am
Very truly yours.
Secretary