Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-06-28
Our Rail Roads.


ment Of two of our Railroads. which may not be
inappropriate a. this time.
RALEIGH AND CASTOR RAIL RoAD.
We doubt il there be Railroad in the Southern
Confederacy managed better if so we'll, as the Raj
eigh and CASTOR Railroad. Ever since the re-
organization and reftting of that Road, no matter
who has been President 1t has been splenddly man
aged. Even when our quondGm friend, CASTOR Fl.
Wilder was President, whom every body knows is
rather slow coach, it wellmanaged. Gen.
Branch did admirably as Railroad Presdent-far
better than he has ever done or ever will do, as
Brig. General. DR.. Hawkins energy and prompt
ness, however, rank him with the first Railroad
Presidents of the COnfederacy; and no Road has
better superintendent than Mr. P. A. Dunn.
The great secret Of the success of this Road, how
ever, does not lie much in the ability Of its Pres
idents insthe wise policy adopted years ago. and
rigidly adhered to- to employ none but the most fit
as chiefs subordinates of the several de-
partments Its employees must be sober, indus
trious reliable and competent men, or they dis
charged. The amount Of wages demanded by each,
has not been the sine qua non with the managers,
but the question is they north SOhat they de-
mand9 The success of the Road is, therefore, to
be attributed more to the efficiency and thorough
competency of the Johnsons Che Vases, the Aliens
the Horizons, the Lipscombs, the Pooles and others
employed on it, than 10 any other one fact. Many
Of them have been on the Road from the beginning
they are as much interested in Its success if it
belonged to them 1t scarcely ever loses mail, a
box or harrel and serious accident has never &C.
CURED on the Road We learn that every engineer
at present was raised an apprentice on the Road
Promptness, safety, and the spirit of accommoda-
ton characterize its operations, and the Road is
coming money. .
NORTH CAROLINA (CENTRAL) RAILROAD.
We wish we could say as much for the North
Carolina (CentraD Railroad. The State and, the
people interested pecuniarily in this Road
than all the rest. Its eminent success is matter
of State pride as we'll as of State interest. 1t has
had good Presidents The lamented Fisher did
much to make the Road an efficient and successful
one, but it has always had some drawbacks from
some cause 1t is, moreover, long Road, and it is
Herculean task to manage it and keep every screw
tight and in the right place. Mr.. Webb, the pres
cnt President, is sensible energetic young man,
and he is doing his utmost make it what it should
be. Besides, the Road when he took it was in
bad condition-nearly run down, and time is
quired to work it up.
But there is manifest incompetency or dereliction
somewhere. Complaints against the Road are be-
coming too common. Collisions, running of, loss
Of mails, dreadful accidents, enormous losses of
freight, trunks, baggage Of all kinds and failures
to time constantly occurring. On the other
end of the Road, some one is always grumbling.
We do not know that any one is to blame for the
inefficiency of the Road. But it is certain that
something must be done to produce a change in its
affairs. 1t ought to have been the most prosperous
learn that the losses have been so great that it
is doubtful whether much has been made We
hope far otherwise.
We fear the secret of its poor success lies main
ly in the too frequent changes made in the chiefs
and subordinates of the several departments. A
penny-wise and pound foolish policy has been prac,
ticed too much, we fear The price of wages and
not the character and fitness of the employees, has
been weighed too much, perhaps. Why is it that
Capt Allen, of the beS! Road masters in the
land, was not kept on the Road? Were he at his
post there--and he is at home on a Railroad
things would work better. Capt \. is no friend
of the Standard but we will do him any other
man justice We throw out these hints for the
consideration of the stockholders who are to meet
soon. We repeat it. something must be done to
should be-