The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-25

President Spencer Explains His Plans
To Macon Merchants.

NEW YORK, July a. There was made
public here a letter dated New York july
10Th, from Samuel Spencer. president or
the Southern Railway Company 20 the
Chamber OF Commerce OF Macon Ga.
being a reply 10 a letter from that body
dated june l-th. IN It's letter the Cham
Der Of Commerce expressed aDprehtu ION
regarding the consolidation of the South
efu Railway Company and sought al
lutimafiOn OF the company policy. cs-
pecially regarding Macon.
Air. spencer 5 reply includes the follow
ing. II see no legitimate ground for ap-
prchensiOn upon the part OF the people
Of Macon on account OF what y0u term
consolation Of cur company ana us
control of The traffic OF the principal lines
entering and centrrlng iu Macon, and
assure YOU that you are entirely right 100
assuming that the Southern railway rec
NEri1Ns the Importance or Macon A.
distributing centre. Whatever may be- tne
result Of ne reorganization 81 The Central
Railroad Company. there Is mo- intention
that that property shall Boz operated as
portion Of the Southern railway system.
AS regards the Georgia southern ana
Florida. the southern Railway Company
and It's friends control not all, but only
"A majority Of the securities. Under these
conditions the property should De man-
aged AS separate corporation ~ oiarf
that the minority interests shall have
fair and equitable treatment and dc-
counting and there Is no purpose on our
part. even II We possessed the power. 10
depart from this. the only proper policy
1T Is not Intended 10 make, or even 70
endeayOr TO make, either OF these roads
an exclusive connection Of the Southern
railway system. 1t Is the policy OF the
Southern Railway Company 10 strength
en- all It's lines and IN every reasonable
way 10 foster the growth OF local inter-
ests within the territory n serves, rather
than TO try TO force an traffic into partic-
ular channels This does not mean that u
proposes 20 assume the burden ana re-
sponsihilitv or guarantee the success Or
nl-conceiyed or badly managed enter
I'VE are fully mindful Of the Importance
Of the location Of Offices and shops IN
Your city. on the other hand. YOU Know
the necessity In all classes o. business, or
the strictest economy Ia operation, ana
how hazardous u T. for those charged
with the responsibilities 10 make deunlte
promises for the future as 10 details or
corporate management assure you,
however. that II IN the course or business
the necessity FOR any change arises, there
shall be a. little disturbance as possible
IN Macon OF such local CALCULATIONS as
las regards consolidation, permit me %
say "A word. Consolidation Ia IN part the
legitimate and inevitable result OF fecs
less and speculative CONSTRUCTION or need
i4.s railr5ads throughout the South. ana
the hopeless struggle 20 maintain tnens
when huilt You and your fellow -citizenf
are well aware OF the widespread rum
and bankruptcy which came upon the
railroad interests 81 Georgia. ! resp,
40 The consolidation which followed. II
might be well 10 ask what else n any
ming was possible under the circufa-
stances Experience shows not only IN
Georgia. but elsewhere. that as a RUE,
there are but two alternatives tof rai'-