Wisconsin Central Railroad01

 

WAUPACA POST

January 16, 1890

 

A Lordly Letter

 

            The following letter is self-explanatory.  The reason for its appearance may or may not lie in fact that Mr. Lord is said to be or have been in the employ of the Wisconsin Central road, which he so ably (?) defends:

EDITOR OF THE POST:

            In your issue of January 9^th, some person over the nom de plume of “The Observer” takes occasion to make some pertinent remarks in regard to the removal of the Western Union Telegraph Office and Northern Pacific Express Office, from the Wisconsin Central depot to some convenient location in the business part of the city. As far as this goes, it is certainly a much needed change, and one that both of these corporations would do well to consider.  The writer, however, works himself into an un-necessary rage over the Wisconsin Central Railroad Co., by charging that the Railroad Co. is to blame for the continuance of these two offices at the depot.  He further stakes occasion to criticize the Railway Co., as to the salary of their agent here.  Now, while I am not inclined to exonerate any person or corporation from merited censure, I feel that the remarks, in regard to the Wisconsin Railroad Co., are wholly unjust.  The Telegraph Co. and Express Co., have a right to locate their offices wherever they may see fit, regardless of the Railway Co.

            Also the Railroad Company’s agent here receiving a niggardly salary, as charged, I cannot see how facts will substantiate such an assertion. Mr. Skinner, the agent, receives $75 a month, besides a commission on certain ticket sales, for his services.  This I think is as much as any clerk in the city receives for services equally as onerous.  Of course I should be pleased to know that our gentlemanly agent here received twice the amount of salary, but comparing it with that received by other clerks in the city, I do not think that the Railway Co. suffers by the comparison.  As to the matter of a new depot in Waupaca, the present building is certainly very commodious and convenient, although this much could not have been said sixty days ago.  The last paragraph relating to the afternoon train being regularly late is too idiotic to need a word of comment.  Anyone with the brain of a hen knows that a belated train is expensive, and a source of great annoyance to a railroad company.  It is an annoyance common on all large lines of road, but courted by none.  One would think from reading “Observer’s” communication, that he had some axe to grind, and was attempting to grind it at the expense of the Wisconsin Central Railway Co.

                                                                                                            Yours Respectfully,

                                                                                                                        IRVING P. LORD