The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-08-01
THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY.
The PresidenL or the Company Out
lines the Policy OF this Great
System.

INC IfeSlucht Oh tnc company Gut
lines the Policy OF this Great
System.
few days ago there was made
public in New York u letter from
Samuel Spencer, president OF tho
Southern Railway Company, which
was addressed to the Chamber of Com
mercc in Macon. Ca, in response to Il
letter from that body. The Chamber
OF Commerce in its letter eXpl esscd
apprehension at the extensive combi-
nations OF the Southern Railway Com
nny, and sought to have an intimu-
tion Of the company's policy especially
in regard to the city OF Macon.
Mr. Spenccrs reply includes the fol-
lowing SEQ no legitimate ground
Tor apprehension upon the part Of the
people OF Macon ON account of what
you term the combinations Of our com
pany and It's control Of the trullc of
the principal lines entering and cen
tcrinG in Macon, and | assure YOU thu,
you are entirely right in assuming
that the Southern hallway recognizes
the Importance of Macon rs Il distri-
buting centre
wv hatevcr may bo the result OF the
reorganization Of tho Central Railroad
Company there is no intention that
the property shall be operated as 1,
portion Of the Southern hallway
system. AS regards the Georgia.,
Southern and Florida the Southern
hallway Company and its friends con
troll not all, but Il ma jority, Of the
securities. Under these conditions the
property should be managed as Il sep
aratc corporation in order that the
minority in this shall have fair and
cquita bic treatment and accounting
AMI therc is no purpose on our part,
even, If we possessed the power, t,
depart from this, the only proper
policy.
sit is not intended to make or cvcn
to cndcavor to make either Of these
roads an exclusive connection Of the
Southern hallway system. 1t is the
policy OF the Southern Railway Com
pany to strengthen ;tll its liucs and in
every reasonable way to foster the
growth Of local Interests within the
territory it serves rather than TO try
TO force all traffic into particular
channels. This does not mean that it
proposes to assume the burden and
responsibility or guarantee the sue
cess Cf i'll conceived on badly managed
enterprises.
I'VE are fully mindful Of the impor-
tancc OF the location Of the Offices and
shops in your city. assure you, how
ever, that. if in the course of business,
there shall be as little disturbance us
possible in Macon Of such locul orgun-
zations us you refer to.
"As regards consolidation permit
mo TO say word. consolidation is in
part the legitimate and inevitable
result OF reckless and speculative con
StructiOn OF needless railways through
out the South, and hopeless struggle
to maintain them when built. You
and your fellow citizens arc well aware
Of the widespread ruin and bankruptcy
which came upon the railroad interests
OF Georgia.. In respect TO the consOli-
dation which followed it might be we'll
to add what else, if anything, was
possible under the circumstances ?
Experience shows, not only in Georgia
but elsewhere, that us Il rule there are
but two alternatives for railroad pro-
must either be consolidated 10 be
operated more chcuply, or Lhcy must
nc left to starvc separately.
:" As regards the policy of the
Southern Railway Company call
your attention TO the fact that it has
not resulted in the increase OF salaries
at any point, but has resulted in better
road bed and equipment, improved
service and greater safety To the
public. The purpose is to secure, if
possible, by IL building up process an
aggregate volume of tralic necessary
to enable it to meet its obligations TO
it's security holders, who have suffered
enormous losses, and to the public
which is constantly demanding better
service At II constantly diminishing
price. TO do this il must keep It's prop
critics in Il constantly improved con-
ditiOn, and all it asks as Il means tt
this ond is uniform and reasonable
rates and the discontinuancc of what
much Legislation seeks, but fails, {,
prevent, namely, secret rate cutting
and discrimination"