Aberdeen’s Train and Boat Schedule Disruption
A drastic change in transportation schedules leaves locals stranded and furious over ballooning travel times.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The change of time for the departure and arrival of the boats, trains and mails went into effect yesterday afternoon amid much cussing and swearing by the people generally and the steamer people in particular. Not only is it a great inconvenience to arise at such a beastly hour in the morning, but the Tacoma or Olympia traveler is compelled to kick his heels against the Gate City depot for nearly six hours before he can get a train to his destination. Coming hitherward he has about the same amount of leisure to view the scenery o'er at Gate City. Formerly the time between Tacoma and Aberdeen was four and one half-hours—now it is nine hours and forty minutes. 'Blessed be the officials of the Northern Pacific Railroad company' is the cry. The Aberdeen folks can eat their supper before going for their mail now.
“Not only is it a great inconvenience to arise at such a beastly hour in the morning, but the traveler is compelled to kick his heels against the Gate City depot for nearly six hours.”
Public transit woes and service cuts have defined Aberdeen’s history as much as its industry. Much like today’s regional connectivity frustrations, the 1890s residents found themselves at the mercy of corporate scheduling that ignored the basic rhythm of their daily lives.
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