The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-17
FIGHTING FOR THE
S. A. | OFFICES
Continued from First Page.)


es we proposed would inflct on Norfolk
Portsmouth or Berkeley damage which
they would feel seriously or which would
appreciably impair their progress. L ap-
preciate and respect the enterprise and
vigilance which moves you gentlemen
and those you represent to oppose ear
nestly every action tending to take one
family or one dollar from your cities;
but l cannot conceive that the changes
we intend Will cause lasting or even APP
preciable detriment to cities or interests.
GOOD SENSE AND BUSINESS.
Let me appeal to your good sense and
business instincts with the statement
advisedly and deliberately made-that
some other interests with which | am
connected other than this railroad have
three times the money invested in and
near Norfolk and Portsmouth than we
have in Richmond. Certainly, as a mat
ter of business. I would resist very car
nestly any action likely to iniure these
cities. Our record is much to the con-
trary. as a matter OF fact, the Seaboard
Air Line will be contributing much more
to the growth and wealth of your cities,
even after such changes as we contem-
plate have been made, than it did prior
to last June. 1t has given YOU $500 miles
of tributary system instead of 900 miles,
opening to you two States-Florida and
Alabama-and large new sections of Gecr-
gia and South Carolina. 1t now sends to
you for repairs. cars and locomotives
from Il far greater distance than ever
bviorc-from points ard lines with which
you had no direct connection and from
which you acquired no results prior 20
the consolidation.
In the light Of these indisputablc facts,
it must be conceded that the Sea board
Air Line and the other interests With
which l am connected have done all they
could do to build up Your cities and
harhorS. 1t must be conceded that our
large interests and heavy investments
in these cities, depending for returns
on the growth and prosperity of the
communities in which they are placed
and the surrounding country, forbid us
from doing anything to impede and i'm
pei us to do everything we can to aid
their. growth and prosperity.
LAS a matter of fact, we had in our
general office force il June. 1900 is
employees, in February, 1901 having
transferred q. large number of our peo-
pie from Jacksonville and Savannah to
Portsmouth
..If you could conceive that I could,
from whim or caprice, or to promote
my personal convenience or some pri-
waite end, aim q blow against. commute
tics on the prosperity OF which my
associates and myself and our allied
interests have staked millions OF dollars.
you would Yet have to suppose that /
had been able to seduce a Board of sDi-
rectors composed of shrcwd and able
business men tsome of whom have moth
ing in view here in Richmond) and bent
them plant to my Will.
I'll do not believe that as intelligent busi-
tons. especially in view OF the. fact that
every member OF the house of which I
am one has for years devoted his thought,
time, energy and money to building up
the South, and think that can say
we have perhaps been the means OF bring
ing more money int. the South than any
other house in all this part Of the coun-
try. not in the world: that we have
more money invested in Norfolk and
Portsmouth than in any other locality
in the South, and that we represent more
money invested with Oh than any other
house OF corporations