N&W in 1910--Busy

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
July 17, 1910

BOX CARS BUSY
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Norfolk and Western Developing Heavy Through Freight Business

    The Norfolk and Western is developing a heavy through freight business which is keeping its box cars busy.  This movement originates at either end of the line and is carried from one end to the other on fast trains.  In fact, the Norfolk and Western can have shipments made over its line from eastern points via Norfolk, Va., and in spite of the water route they are able to land their cars in Cincinnati and Columbus ahead of other all-rail shippers.  This business is showing such a remarkable increase that the freight agents and officials can take a good deal of credit to themselves as they are deserving of it.  It may be that the road will in time be able to haul enough through freight on return empty loads to more than pay for hauling the empty coal cars, which is a big expense.  The Norfolk and Western is coming and some of these days will get its passenger department in such shape that it will not advertise an excursion to Norfolk with no sleeping facilities for the return trip which is started at 9 o'clock at night.  Comfort on a railroad train is the biggest ad a railroad can have and there is not much comfort riding at night on a cheap excursion when people have to sit up all night.
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[It sounds as though the reporter wanted to sneak in his criticism of the excursion by tacking it onto an article about freight business.]

Gordon Hamilton
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