The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-04-24
(By the Out Easter)

The action of the United States Interstate Commission of the other day, decreeing that all rail- roads of the country must reduce their fare charges to two cents mile, as of June l, next, makes us out here think of the days of the old Meriden railroad with it's main station on old Dublin street, and its rate of travel from Water bury to Meriden, yes, and beyond to the town of Cromwell, where some of us used to enjoy the s0- called moonlight excursions on the boats of the Connecticut, leaving at night from this point of the we'll known river.
 Back in those days we speak of, it was possible for us to travel by rail to Cromwell, and then to take the much advertised "Beautifup steamboat, Sunshine" for . sail down the River as far as Say brook, and return, for the sum of on dollar and . half. All of the "young lads" out here took them in whenever 1t was possible to save the amount required for the tick cts, And grownups too, by the hundred, also took in the sail on 2 warm Summers night.
 And when, in addition, the boys of this section with a half dollar in their pocket would buy ticket to Meriden good for the return home. Very often, the little fellows would save up 20 cents for 8 ride to Cheshire and back, and gI0at over their Hong" trip of ten miles or so.
 The New Haven railroad, through its Trustees, as appointed by the United States court, op- posed the proposed reduction. So did the Penn. railroad and so did the New York Central. But the Baltimore and Ohio favored 1t, and regardless of the commission, signified it's intention of reduce ing the fare on that line to two cents . mile. The commission fin- ally decided that all railroads must reduce the fare.
 Now, unless something out of the ordinary happens, Waterbury, and all other eastern points will be able to ride by rail at a much cheaper rate than has been the custom since war days.
 All of which, reminds us, too, that back 20 years ago or 50, the railroad fare to New York by way of the old Naugatuck division was $1.8O, later being increased to $1.90 or $1.95. Remember the friendly MT. Sackett who used to sell tickets, at the old Naugatuck station in lower Bank street, with his young assistant, George Pier pont at his side. and helping out in the rush. And then when MT. Sackett passed out, George was advanced to the position.
 Occasionally, we had an excur- sion to New York during mid- week, for which the charge, back and forth, was one dollar. But the merchants objected and the custom was abandoned. We doubt If the coming change in fares will interfere with the present Sunday $l.50 excursions to New York
 The actual fare to New York from Waterbury now is $3.16, and has been ever since the govern nent took charge of all railroads during the war. Just after the increase or at the close of the war travel by automobile started to become more popular, with the result that the railroads have since suffered great losses in their passenger receipts. And yet, they wouldn't reduce the fare.
 Now, the Commission says they must, and 50 our travel by rail from June 1 will be about the same az it was back 20 and 25 years ago.
 If we only had the old Meriden railroad running again., with the automobile in the background.
 We are sure 1t would be just as popular in our part of the city as it was hack in the so-called Gay Nineties."
 And the 'cNineties" were Gay Out East, don't forget that.
 IA .H.