The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-17
THE SEABOARD AIR LINE.


EhPlr New l'iaNS anu tHelr bOScot.
As far as we know. the Sea board road had
the unanimous sympathy of the people at
the beginning OF their bnyc"t, bat we think
that public sentiment in their behalf Is weak
ening.
At Tue first, the public intuitively thought
the hoycot was a bold attempt OF strong COM
petitOrs TO crush ont Il weaker rival.
II now appears that The boycot was the re.
su 10 of cause. II the Seaboard would mold
the pub lie Sy mpathy II ought TO diSprnve the
ugly charges about the consignment OF freight
oSLensbly Tor Charleston and Savannah, but
which was in reality for Atlanta.
In what we here say, We except Mr.. Bunch
McBee, who il, by all, acknow iedged 10 be q
most efficient railroad man.
We mention some Of our reasons for bellev.
ing that the road has In the past been badly
managed. and is now not managed as II
should be.
No proper effort has been made to ge,
and huId the business nf this town. and be
cause Of this inefficiency. II has lost or fails
TO get much business that 1t would otherwise
get.
There has been an Indebtedness and insta
billy on their part as TO the shops at this
place. The road contracted to erect and main
tain them on condition that we give them
SIS 010. We paid the money. They opened
removed about half the force. Recently posi-
tive assurance was given that the shops on
or about the first Of April would be made
| larger than they ever were, with larger force
Of men. Instead of that. several OF the re-
NAMING men have been dism issed. and II IL
| said that notice of a reduction of the salaries
Of Others was given. Upon notification how
ever, that strike would follow IL such an or
der was enforced, report says that the order
! tor reduction Of wages was Immediately re-
/ scinded.
Another complaint 10. that it was proposed
to give Western men, or strangers. the places
OF home people who were discharged for nc
! fault. But some Of the new men failed Il
stand the usual examination, and were no
allowed to take the places made vacant fol
! them.
! The frequent wrecks on the road last veal
showed incompetency or inefllciency some
, where.
The Seaboard may be able TO maintain {
good business without efficient men TO culti
vate the people who would, or ought to, pa
roniZe the road, but IT certainly could do
better business, II 1t were more efficient and
showed itself more friendly.
They bungled along for year or two at th'
gates of Atlanta, and even now 1t seems tina
there are business men in that city who have
never heard OF the Spaboard.
FicklenesS Is shown, too, in the frequen
changes of its officers and in hauling the OF
fees around. For a while Abbeville wa
headquarters for the train dispatcher. Tn
train dispatcher has been changed, and til
office moved TO Atlanta.
1t is said that Vice President st. John is
irst class railroad man, but even with tina
he ought not to antagonist the people by dis
missing home folk for no other reason thai
TO give place To favOrites.
And If he had been first class railroa
man he ought not to have refused railroa
connection with the Chester and Lenoir Nal
row Gauge road, and thus allow IL To becom
feeder 10 the Seaboard's rival.