The Lamar register., 1896-12-05
a NEW DEPARTURE.
An Industrial Department Established by
the santa Fe Company.

route, appreciating the vast import
anee OF developing local business enter
prises in the territory trayersed by its
lines has created an industrial depart
ment, in charge OF an experienced and
competent commissioner. whose sole
concern it win be to assist in such de-
velopment by acting as means OF com
munication between woeld-be investors
seeking profitable employment Of eapi-
tai on the one hand ana the innumerable
opportunities for such investment in
western territory upon the other, Tue
third vice president Of the Santa Fe has
accordingly addressed communication
on this subject 10 the general freight
agents OF the entire system, a copy Of
which communication is given below
The Significance Of this benefceni poll
cy 10 communities richer In opportu-
nifty than capital will at once be aprar-
eut. and it viii doubtless meet with
hearty cooperation everywhere:
Chicago. Nov. 20, 1896.
Gentlemen:--In pursuance OF the pol
icy we have already talked about. Of
assisting In every way We consistently
can in locating new enterprises and At
the same time fostering Industries al
ready located on our line Of road. we
have established an industrial depart
menL
Mr.. James A. Davis has been placed
in charge OF this department with the
title OF Industrial commissioner, with
headquarters at Chicago.
This department will, so far as IL
seems compatible with propriety, take
a paternai interest in the development
of the towns and territory serted by
our company. and viii respond prompt
IL 10 all calls for cooperation in the
establishment OF factories, location Of
mills and the development of any and
all resources that may be discovered.
II will endeayor. where necessary. to
Place produce in touch with markets,
and ia general way Il will undertake.
to bring about improved conditions all
over our system.
II will not attempt to boom any one
town as against another; ia fact, Il will
not in any way favor booms, but pro-
ceed on the theory that solid, contin-
uous growth is better than a boom, and
its efforts win be in that direction.
II will not take any financial interest
in proposed industries. as it will have
no money to invest nor cash TO con-
triSute.
The Industrial department will no,
assist In the location of creameries
where there are no cows, nor rolling
mills in a country without either iron
ore, fuel or coke, nor in any way will it
knowingly lend its support TO a propo-
sition that seems wrong. either geo
graphically, commercially or finan-
cially.
Manufactures that consume native
raw materials will be encouraged. For
example, in the corn belt there does no;
appear TO he any reason why hOmiuy
mills, glucose, syrup, sugar and starch
factories. If properly managed, should
not thrive.
These factories should all begin in a
small way. The capital invested should
not all be put into working plants. II
takes money to operate II factory after
it is built, and the primary essential is
good management. Nothing succeeds
with poor management.
write you quite at length on this
subject, because il seems very import
ent 20 me that everybody along our line
ought to know how we feel about this
matter. We want TO be in touch with
the people we serve, and we want them
to know that we appreciate that any
thing we do toward building up and en-
riching the towns and country we tra-
verse builds up and enriches this com
pany.
Mr.. Davis will be glad. at any time,
to hear from boards Of trade, COM
mercial clubs, farmers alliances or