The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-06
POLICY OF MR.. BARR
Will Not Discriminate Against
Raleigh.
He Says There is no Intention Of Moving The
Shops From This City or Suspending
Work in Them

| The committee of the Raleigh Cham
Der of Commerce and Business Mems AS
ISOLATION that went to Portsmouth to
confer with General Manager Barr re-
turned to Raleigh yesterday morning
The committee was composed of the fol-
lowing gentlemen:
| From the Chamber of Commerce-Jo-
! sephus Daniels, President, G. G. Latta,
f. O. Moring, T. w. Dobbin, Claude
Barbee, w. w. Vass and John Wilbur
Jenkins.
! From the Business Mems Association
Maj. j. B. Hill, j. S. Wynne, Jesse A.
Jones, Walter Woolcott
They met Mr.. Barr and Judge Watts
by appointment at II o'clock and had an
hours conference, the gist of which was
published yesterday. The confer
ence took a wide range. The committee
showed that it was to the financial inter-
est of the Seaboard system, which re-
ceives eighty per cent of the business
of Raleigh, to restore the shops, at least
in part as they formerly existed in Raj
eigh. Ten years ago the force employed
here was about 300 men. Then the road
was small road as compared to the
system today. They recalled the prom
ises that consolidation would be OF
great benefit to Raleigh, that the shops
! would be rebuilt and a new freight de-
pot erected, and then showed that in
stead of any increase in the shops the
number had constantly been decreasing
until now it embraces only seven ma
chinists. 1t was shown that only ten
days or so ago, after the big wreck be-
/ low Hamlet, that long wreck was hauled
to Portsmouth to be repaired when
money and time would have been saved
by having shops at Raleigh. Other ar
guments were presented, all the MEM
bers of the committee taking part in the
informal discussion. Mr.. Barr seemed
to feel that the people of Raleigh had
not given ample protection to the road
during the recent strike, and he was
, rather severe in his criticism of some
of the authorities. The committee gave
him their view of the matter which
must have thrown a new light upon the
situation, for he had apparently viewed
the matter only from the railroad stand
point. He said, however, that while he
felt that the road was denied the pro-
lection to which he felt it was entitled
he would not allow that feeling to af-
feet his judgment and he would do all
the work in the shops at Raleigh that
economic reasons would justify, and
that his road would seek to deserve and
receive the continued good will of the
people of the States capital city
BeSN is the gist of what Mr.. Barr in
Dictated would be his policy with refer
ence to this city. The language is not
Mr. Bars, but the sentiment is as eX-
pressed by him:
Raleigh will have as much increase
in the force of the Seaboard Air Line
shops located in that city as may be
used with economy to the company.
There is ne intention of moving the
shops from Raleigh or suspending work
there because of the sympathy felt by
citizens for the strikers during the re-
cent strike of the machinists, though
the railroad management feels sore be-
cause it feels that the men imported to
take the place of the strikers did not re-
ceive the protection to which they were
entitled.
1.-THE shops at Hamlet will not be en-
larged to do large volume of work,
but only to do light repair work. Some
machinists and a small shop is needed
there for Immediate light work of the
branches centering there.
There is no danger that any of the
freight crews will be moved from Raj
elgh because it is physically impossible
to increase their runs.
There is no certainty, however, that
the passenger crews on the trains from
Richmond to Hamlet will be changed at
Raleigh as at present. Indeed there are
said to be substantial reasons why these
crews should start with the engines
and go through to the terminals
Raleigh will not be disseminated
against. It's kindly feeling and large
business are appreciated but there can
be no discrimination in favor of Raj
eigh or any other place on the line In
making changes, reference will be had
to the old divisions of which the CONSOLE
dated Seaboard is made up.
mo person in Raleigh who took part
in the recent strike will be re-instated,
but the Seabcard will pursue the policy
, adopted by the Southern Railroad in re-
fusing to take them back