The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-10
AMONG THE RAILROADS.


The Seaboard Air Line Railroads man
agement is constantly devising new plans
for the development of their territory.
The latest plan is an ingenious one They
are having erected a large building that
is to be fitted with power, and they pro-
pose to give floor space and power free of
cost to skilled artisans in the Northern
and New England States who will come
down and start manufacturing enterprises
of various kinds.
This offer is to be specially made
| through physicians North so that a pref
erence may be given men who ought to
come South on account of the health of a
consumptiye wife or child. There are
thousands Of Just such cases, and while
the railroad is no doubt doing its work on
account of the great benefit the stock
holders will derive from it, it will be the
means of saving the lives of great many
! personsWho would otherwise have to stay
up North and probably die
At a recent meeting in Boston of the
American Invalids' Aid Society, composed
of several hundred of the most prominent
persons in that section when the an
nouncement of the Seaboard Air Lines
plan was made it was heartily applauded.
1t may not be the intention of the road to
advertise it's business, yet this enterprise
will do more to inform the public that
there is such a railroad as the Seaboard
Air Line in the Southern States than any
other one thing they can do, and there is
no question but what it is going to bring
to the line large number of small manu-
featuring enterprises and at the same
time call the attention of large manufac-
tuners who may be seeking new fields in
which to work.
The. building is being erected at Pine
bluff, N. c.. and it is to be under the
care of the companys industrial agent, j.
place.
The Portsmouth Star saws that Presi-
dent John SHELTON Williams defers an an
swer to the Norfolk Portsmouth's business
men until the coming of Vice-President
Barr, on the 1st Of May. The Ports
mouth Star has scared many S. A. L..
officials by this story:
although the official announcement
has been made that the coming of Mr..
Barr to the Seaboard Air Line as general
manager does not mean shake-up in
employees, there is feenng among the
employees that places are not entirely safe.
Mr.. Barr has a reputation of dispensing
with the services of any man who is not
needed He has a very clear idea of just
how much work man can do in day,
having been oil along the road himself.
There are many stories in circulation
concerning the way he reduces expenses
by dispensing with the services of men
who can be done without. One of those
heard most frequently is to the effect that
the day on which he entered on his duties
as general manager of the Norfolk and
Western, he asked to see the pay roll,
and upon starting to go over it asked for
pen. In the next few minutes he used
| the pen several times to make check
marks before the names of employees
whose services he thought were unneces-
sary in the sense that they could be done
| by other men in connection with their
| work. BY and by the marking became
more rapid, and finally he threw the pen
on the desk and called to the clerk stand
| ing near: Bring me marking pot