| From the Raleigh State Journal |
| |
| December 15, 1862 |
| |
| "Cold Weather" and the N. C. Railroad |
| The following communication is from Thomas
Webb, Esq., President of the North Carolina Railroad Company, in reply
to a communication from a correspondent signing himself "Cold
Weather," which appeared in a late issue of this paper. |
| We can assure Mr. Webb that our
correspondent is a perfectly reliable gentleman, and one of the last
to grumble needlessly. Still the explanation of Mr. Webb will
doubtless satisfy "Cold Weather," and show him that the
company is not to blame in the matter of changes by its agents. On a
recent occasion we failed to get a ticket at Hillsboro', on account of
the absence of the ticket agent, and the conductor knowing this, asked
only the regular fare. |
| And whilst on this subject we take
occasion to say that much of the censure cast upon the management of
Railroads now-a-days is wholly underserved. Grumblers seem not to
realize the difficulties with which railroad management at this time
is attendant. The demands of the Government and the increased public
travel, tax to the utmost the whole resources of the several
Companies, leaving them no time for repairs, and in many cases where
time might possibly be had, there are not material with which to make
repairs. The railroads of this State are doing more valuable services
than they will ever get credit for. Let us bear with inconveniences
for a while: |
| |
| For the State Journal |
| Office N. C. Railroad Co. |
| Co. Shops, Dec. 12, 1862 |
| |
| Mr. Editor, |
| An article from a correspondent sighed
"Cold Weather" in your paper of yesterday calls for a reply. |
| The Board of Directors of this Company
require Conductors to collect six cent5s a mile from all persons who
pay the fare on the cars, unless the ticket Agent should not be at his
office, when they are directed to collect the usual fare, and the
Agent is required to pay the extra. |
| That the Agent was in his office at
Salisbury, is evidenced by the fact that the Conductor on the train
from Salisbury to Raleigh on the morning of the 3d Dec. collected Ten
Whole tickets and Four Half tickets. He informs me that there was not
more than one or two passengers who did not have tickets from that
station; that the train was a Salisbury for twenty-five minutes and
that the Agent was in his office all that time, and ample opportunity
was afforded to any one to get a ticket who desired to do so. |
| Very respectfully |
| Thomas Webb, Pres't. |
|