The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-31
Tho Management of Railroads.

Tho following well considered remarks upon
tho proper management Of Railroads, we cx.
tract from recent number cf the Journal Of
Commerce
The acquisition Of Il profitable permanent
business upon n railroad, can only be made in
the same way that il is secured i'll other trade;
and Gu Kings. Onc,grcat mistake is I" suppose
that chcarncss j. reonly thing to be considered.
This might c1ruc, okhcr MAys b"iny crofig
rq""1, but this equality must not be taken lor
:.rantcd. hotel at $2,,o per day may have
more custom than ono nj : 80, and this bcctu"i
ii is cheaper at The higher price or hcra':5" the
traveller does not want the cheap article a, all,
his chief ain hciu" comfort and not economy.
Two merchants side by side may Lc in the "a'ne
line of business and one become rich while he
other fails. The secret of success Is not alto
:scter in being able TO sell cheap, but III keep
nc ,lcsircab!c goods, and ceiling them III an
hunuraIIr alr:,b'c courteous Inauucr, with Il
due r...ari 10 tl,c wshc; and inirrct OF the
purchaser. Place ia" same man in the nirm-
t"c,n.nt "f n r!ilioa'l company, aud 1t is far
! 10 presume that lie would cnsrrr the same
swcccs'. lie would providcTr"nl'rtah!c car
have them property furnished, warmed, a,,l
/ vc!!ti!atcd.. lie would sccnvc lui'r attentive
/ and capable conductors: he wnwll insist, oil
| employing able engineers lie woul.l take every
! rrccau;i"n for safety: nc would protect the
passengers rs Far As possible from abuse, insult
or annoyance, III Or around the points Of arrival
/ ~ ~ HS "oHhl H'tNt proper persons
OIL hand at the various dcrots TO direct travel
! cr5 1" the proper trains, AMI see tu il that
| they were comfortably seated, guar.ln. the
modest and sensitive from the rulcncss of the
selfish and oycrbcaring: he would have suita-
| bic poltcrs to receive the baggage at the mo-
in"nt Of lis arrival, attend to clicckin. it and
make proper arrangements for its careful ircc
| ton and safe delivery; he would allow no
unnecessary delays, and if his trains were stop
! ped for any reason. the cause would be couptc
uu-ly explained to all Interested Ire would
/ arrange for suitable Refreshments at proper
: time and place, announce the exact period al
lowed for obtaining, them, anl SEQ rs r,r as
! possible that no imposition was practscd in The
! quality furnished or The prices charged. In
! short, lie would study the convenience and
comfort of passengers, and establish Il character
in this,. s,.rcspcct, which would for outweigh ihc
mere question of cost while he would iud.
! in the end, that his systra was mere cyn"n-
sivc than the disorder anil Inconvenience: whi,i
are too generally allowed This system would
attract tho travel TO the rout every passenger
would be q runner for the company to herald
its praises, and no rival dc;raction could him
der its prosper ty. The same principle should
be applied 10 freight for although the mcrclar,-
disc itself is dumb, IFS cheerful handling, Ger
tain dispatch, anI prompt delivery by respect
| full agents, will find an uttcrancc that will
bring 4 grateful response from many hearts,