Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-22
The Richmond Terminal Management.
ATLANTA ConstifDtionl

Whenever we have been satisfied that
such assistance as has been asked by the
Richmond Terminal Company has been
clearly for the interest OF the people and
for the benefit of the section IN which the
system operates, we have never hesitated
to render aid.
Whenever we believed that any work of
the system was not for the benefit of the
public, we have likewise entered protest.
Several months ago we had reason to think
that the railroads were not acting fairly to-
ward the people in their coal rates. We en-
tered emphatic protest, and soon after o
reasonable adjustment was effected. At an
other time we ielt that 1t was an injustice
to the people of the section in which the
road operated that its headquarters should
be out of close reach of the patronage of the
road. and pointed out wherein great in
convenience and annoyance resulted
therefrom. The system made move to
meet this objection. and now. after its
nominal headquarters have been fixed in
Atlanta for several months. we take occa-
sion TO say that the people are not salts
fed with what has been done on this line.
The nominal headquarters of the system
are in Atlanta, but the real headquarters
of the Richmond and Danville as well as
of the Terminal system, is in New York.
The officials in Atlanta, who are nomi-
nally in charge of the Richmond and Dan
Vile, are harder TO approach for practical
results than when the Offices were
elsewhere. Major Greene is an ad-
mirable general manager. and the
system could not find better one.
But the trouble about his Office is that
his authority, and that of the other high
officials in Atlanta, has been so circum-
scribed that New York has TO be resorted
to after all in most matters pertaining to
the business of the road, which should be
transacted in Atlanta, if this city was the
real headquarters.
The trouble is the Terminal Compsnyis
trying to run this great property with the
head man, who has special charge OF Its ope-
rations. living In New York in handy reach
OF Wall street. This will always work to
the disadvantage OF the road and the people.
1t is very we'll Tor the president of the Ter
minal system to have his headquarters in
New York, for his duties are, or ought to
be, only financial. But the president of
the Richmond and Danville or such officer
of the Terminal as has first charge Of
operating the roads of the system ought
to DO man thoroughly 'versed in railroad
management in all Its details, and, above
all things, ought 20 be located on the line
| and as near as possible in the centre of the
system.
We call the attention of the new man.
kgement to this state OF affairs. and we
deem It proper to say that it is the duty Of
| the management of the road. il it desires
to make this great property q success, and
we have no doubt of that, that 1t should
give this important question serious and
| favorable consideration.
No system has yet been successfully ope-
rated either Ia the West or in the South
whose officers in charge of operations were
located away from ITS lines. 1t has been
tried in several instances and failed. The
last venture Of this kind in the South was
that Of the East Tennessee. Virginia and
Georgia road, and when it was forced 70 q
change it made q great mistake In moving
its headquarters to Cincinnati, instead of to
Chattanooga, the centre Of its system.
Atlanta Is the natural centre OF the Rich
mond and Dsnvills system, and the presi-
dent OF the company ought to be located
here. These are facts which we commend
TO the consideration of the new manage
ment. and the sooner they are considered
and acted upon, the better Is will be foS
the system, not TO speak Of the advantage
that would DO gained BY the patrons of
the rosd.