Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-13
Railway Management.

The subjoined article is from late copy of tho
New York Times, and 30 nearly accords with our
own views of the subject, that We lay it with
pleasure before readers. Nobody at oil IA
mar with tho manner in which Railroad Diroc-
tors are usually appointed in this State, upon the
part of the Commonwealth, can fail to perceive
that the structures of our contemporary, though
designed, more particularly. we presume, for tho
State Of New York, apply very forcible to our
selves We do not design to include nil within
the rule, for there are some exceptions-when We
say that Railroad Directors very frequently
chosen in virtue oftheir political opinions, in the
absence of the FIRST qualification to commend them
for the important trust of moulding and direct
ing the policy that should characterize our Rail
roads. Hence the bungling and Encouragement,
the injury and loss sustained by these corpora
tions. If Directors, whatever might DO their
knowledge Of current politics, would restrict
themselves to general oversight Of the roads sub
ected to their control. and leave TO intelligent and
well selected officers, the management Of all tho mir
nutie of their roads, we believe, a. general thing
they would BE- better managed and prove more
productive.
The article We select from the Times is the con-
GLIDING portion Of long editorial, which We sub
NIT 70 the careful attention Of our renders:
Who, then, shall manage our railways in accor-
dance with the laws Of phi steal science? 1t the
business Of three parties, which are more or less
amalgamatsd-the Executive officers and En-
ployes the Directors and the Owners. The Off
GERS cannot be estimated as q class many of them
are shamefally ignorant of tho first principles of
economy; many Of them are fully competent to
make their roads conspicuous examples Of success
and would oftener do it were they not trammclled
by the ignorance and incredulity Of their superb
ors. Rrcctors as class. are men who deserve
credit for somefhiag, but not for knowledge of rail
way economy. Their Office entities them to settle
al the great commercial questions Of the road
and to select competent executive officers but
their chief business should be to keep out of the
way Of such officers, when selected, il they do not
know how 70 aid them in their legitimate business
Every competent officer and engineer in the coun-
try will corroborate this assertion. And it is the
duty Of The owners Of railway property to select
Directors who will, above all other things. judi
ciously appreciate and encourage the reasonable
efforts Of the few men who really understand the
principles Of railroad economy. And here it is
important to remember that, Of the mass Of duties
which are jumbled under the name of railway
management, with reference to their Importance
and the money involved, three-quarters are purely
engineering duties Tho others are commercial
and legal only.
What state OF mind then, on the part Of the own
ers and directors Of railways, who, as class, are
not educated in tho practical details Of railway
economy. 10 necessary to the selection and encour-
agement Of Offices and employers who are SO eiu-
catedf Simply this: Confidence in the importance
and sncoriablc success tn engineering talent -
faith in the ability Of tried aud proved men to
bring forth the legitimate fruits of mechanical,
chsaieA and practical knowledge and SKILL
Thsss fruits ere dividends.
A. ehis point tho issue il direct and practical
Confidence like this must rest on q very sure ba-
-. There vas never surer evidence of things
not sssn, than that which speaks from the thou
sand ashisvsments Of engineering talent, with
which ths civilized world sbounds. If the people
win sxamins the proof thsy will not fail to in
trust thsir properly to the hands which establish
Cd It. A litas attention, observation and reading
on their part win deliver railway property from
the two greatest calanaities which ever befel it.
The public's own ignorant interference with off,
csrs Who know they are right and can prove it.
ana sne pubtcs false economy in selecting officers
who are cheap. whether they are right or not.
Ons sAing 70 certain, railway property is slip
phng through the fingers Of it's owners at speed
which WI soon render solicitude and reform too
late. Some, perhaps. many. Of our RAILWAYS have
undoubtedly been constructed under conditions
vhieh wouA never permit them to Be probable.
Bat - opsntM number have failed TO Be pro6ts,
~ beaansa thsy have been badly mAnaged-bs-
49, 1nGinsosisg skin ard science upon them
h1sp - nndeFratsd- bscause the financial
sehen0 q Di1eGlpn I'D Presidents, or the pri.
~ ls9 q slsclkAo ldsss and favorits contrac-
~ - - Allowed b override Tie conclusions