The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-01-15
THE S. A. L. AGENCY.
Mr.. j. ID. Jennings Besigns-Mr. w.
w. Bradley Applies for the Place
-:rhe superintendent Writes Po.
>IiteIy In Answer 10 PetitiOn-Ob-
seryaiions On the Subject of Letter

| The superintendent writes 70
>IiteIy In Answer 10 PetitiOn-Ob
.eryations on the Subject Of Letter
Writing.
The recent resignation OF Mr.. J. D. Jennings
| local agent of The SeAbuard AIR Line at All
beyllle, made q vacancy, TO hll which place
| lhe business men OF tue city made petition
| position. While the request Ut the business
| meu oI Abbeville was not granted, the reply
was respectful and Ii In such striking COL
| trast with some olher correspondence Which
ha. been liad with high officers OF the Sea
board we PRESENT. the answer OF Mr.. Betk ke
| ley, VINO is perhaps more mighty esteemed 10
| Abueville Lhau any man On the rOHd de
| has been uniformly respectful ana alWays
anxious to be accommodating AS lar. as The
rules and Interests OF the road will allow
W hiIe our business meu really desired the
appointment OF MIR. Bradley, YET tney uppre
ciale The cl .ilIly WIN which their petition
Seaboard Air Line Railway,
I Atlanta, Ga, Jan. 10, 1902
Messrs. P. Roscn berg q Co., and Other Peti-
TONERS, AbbevlIle, =. e.:
GeulIemen-Your petition In behalf Of Mr.
w. W. Bradley Ior the position as Agent Tor
The Seaboard Air Line Railway at your city.
In rsuiy. beg to state that am always glad
TO nave the patrons Of our Road take up such
louestions wi, me-. and. assure You that
viii give them due consideration.
r..
day, ana mad Il talk with him. He impresses
ine as being q very bright and competent
,oung man, but rs he sta ed TO the he ls aosu-
lulely without experience In railroad
know chat the position or Agent al such an
IN purlant aud growing town az Aboev1lle,
where competition IL very strict, IL ls neces-
sary to have u IDao, not only OF ability, out
one who is also experien ced in railroad work,
In 3order " do Justice 10 our line. II Mr..
Bradley had nao such experience, l would
nave been giAd to have appointed hlu, put IL
Is incu LII bent on De To suoserVe drst the ln.
.erests Of the Company, which 1 represent;
and Deg 10 state that IN conjunction With
the Traffic Department, we have gone over
The ground and selected The best mar at our
disposal for tue position, and earnestly sng
sest That you give him your support, and
assure you that he will do every thing In his
power 10 subserve' your Interest as well as
that Of the Company.
1 .,n Yours truly, +. Berkeley,
: Superintendent.
In connection with the above, we would
tlole that various changes have been recently
made in the jmanagelnentsof the Seatoard
Air Line. Since having some correspondence
with President Williams this newspaper has
oeen expecting shake npu an along tn, tne
was not based upon any hint from MIR. w ll.
'liams, but WIS an Inference drawn from Dit
own poiiteness and consideration OF matiei
which he could very we'll have afforded to lei
pass unnoliced. We then thought That
man OF his poliIeness and respect for the ieel
ings Of others would not always allow hls
either me pnolic or 10 the customers ;ot hit
We know nothing as to the reasons which
brought about recent changes elsewhere oD
the road. The manner OF correspondence
with or the treatme Of the customers ma!
nave had nothing TO do wilt these changes,
out we have beenexpecting u change
The running OF the Seaboard trains, and
The promptness with which lre,ght mas oeep
delivered mas been all that could be desired,
out the luck OF courteous treatment on the
part OF some OF the officials has no doubl
iriven away mucn business that would nave
naturally gone 10 the Seaboard. -.
y MIR. ST. John, while he was In charge, gave
very ntlle evidence of culture, and he treated
lhe customers OF The road Wit b coarseness
which has perhaps never been equHueo.
Lacking In courteous demeanor hiirself, II
was hardly to be expected that his employees
would excel In clvility.
II we were going to specify, we would give
expression To the belief that tue office al
DOT distinguished for It's ci illty. and That II
u lacking IN respect for its local agents.
They attempt too much at The Portsmouth,
office, aud delegate too little 10 the local
agents. The local agents, IT. seems TO an out.
sider, is scarcely recognized as anybody al
All. A local agent, II for no other reason,
should be respected at headquarters, TO set an
example TO outsiders. Why shoul the pun.
NC IespeCt al eupioyee VI VIZ Lpau "noee y y,
perior officersgaye unmistakable evidence SoI
dtsrespect2 4. -
Aside from this, the local agent should have
the ear Of the high officials, as we'll as the
good will OF the people.
Why should local agents hesitate to send IN
claims " hich customers may desire to lodge?
Why should not the ,ompany adjust claims
at ouce, enc way or the oLher? Why should
d customers claim for damage, or excessive
freight charges. he deferred until be threat
ems TO sue! Why snoud. Railroad officials
conduct their correspondence In such a way
az To deter the best and:most respectable ci
zens from writing 10 them? IL II TO the ao-
vantage OF the railroud, or IL 1t TO crafty an
improper spirit, that railroad officials are
prompled.to write curt or offensive letters?