Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-01-08
A NEW DEPARTURE.
Santa Fe Road Establishes an
Industrial Department.
DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL BUsI-
NESS ENTERPRISES TO BE
FOSTERED.
James A. Davis Appointed Commits
sioher, With Headquarters In
Chicago.

The management OF the Santa Fe Route,
apprcciating the vast Importance OF dsvel-
oping local business enterprises in the ter
ritory travsrsed by Its lines, has crsatsd
an industrial department, In charge OF an
experienced and competent Commissioner,
whose sole concern 1t will be to assist In
such development by acting as a means OF
communication between would DO invest
ors, seeking profitable employment Of cap
ital, on the one hand, and the innumsra-
bic opportunities for ssch investment In
Western territory, upon the other. The
Third vics-Prssidsnt Of the Santa Fs has
accordingly addressed a communication
on this subject to the General Freight
Agents OF the entire System, q copy OF
| which communication we give below. The
| significance of this bsnsfcent policy to
| communities, richer In opportunity than
in capital, will at once be APPARENT, and
Il will doubtless meet with hearty cooper
alton, svsry where:
CHICAGO, November, 20, 1896.
Mr.. n. @. Gay. G.. n. A., Topeka. Kan.
Mr.. L. j. Polk, @. r. A Galveston, Tea.
Mr.. Il. Chambers, @. f. A., Los Angeles,
Cal.
GENTLEMEN TN pursuance with the
policy we have already talked about, OF
assisting In every way we consistently can.
in locating now enterprises and at the
same time fostering industries already To-
Gated on our linz of road, we have estab-
lisbsd an industrial Department.
Mr.. Jas. A. Davis has BEEN placed In
charge of this department with the title OF
Industrial Commissioner, with hsadquar.
ters at Chicago.
This department will, so far as 1t seems
| compatible with propriety, take a paternal
| interest In the development of the towns
| aud territory served by our Company, and
| IL will respond promptly to all calls for CO.
| operation in the establishment OF facto.
ries, location of mills and the developmenf
of any and all resources that may be as
covered. :.
1t will endeavor, where necessary, ITO
| place produce In touch with markets, and
| In a general way II will undertake TO bring
| about improved conditions all over our
System.
II will not attempt to boom any one
town as against another; in fact, II will
| not in apy way favor booms, but will pro
| coed on the theory hat a solid, continuous
growth is better than q boom, and It's ef-
forts will be in that direction.
tt will not take any financial interest In
proposed industries, as IL VIII nave NJ
money to invest nor cash to contribute.
The Industrial Department will not as
sist in the location OF creameries wners
there are no cows, nor rolling mills In .
country without either iron ore, fuel OF
coke, nor In any way Will IL knowinR'J
lend its support to a proposition ina
seems wrong, either geographically, c'm
mercially or financially.
Manufactures that consume native raw
-. I'LL hn aRroura0ad. For Exam.
nis. in the corn belt there does not appear
to be any reason why hominy mills. glu'
cose. syrup, sugar and starch factories, y
properly managed should not thrive.
These factories should all begin in Z
small a The capital invested shouic
not all be put into working plants. !
takes money to operate . factory after !
is built, and the primary essential 10 gooc
management. Nothing succeeds win poo
management. 1870
I write YOU at length on this subjsct
because 1t seems very important to mi
that everybody along our line ought 4
know how We feel about this matter. W.
want to be in touch with the peopio w
serve, and We want them to know thar W
appreciate that anything We do toward
building up and enriching the towns AMI
country we traverse, builds up and snriche
this Company. !.
Mr.. Davis will be glad. at any time, t.
hear from Boards of Trade, Commercia
Clubs. Farmers Alliances or any organic
cd bodies, as we'll as firms and individuals
and will make 1t his business to visit an
advise with any community wishing to e.
tablish manufactures or In any way dssiI
Ing to improve their condition.
Circular announcing Mr.. Davis' appoint
ment will be issued to-day, and l think
would be well for you to advise all you
subordinate officers as to what we desir
to accomplish, in order that We may &c
the greatest results from the lndustri'
Department..
Yours4ruly,
(Signed) PAUL NORTON,
Third Vice President.