The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-18
DOUBLE DAILY SERVICE.
CONFERENCE WITH THE S. A. L. OF.
FIGIAIS LAST NIGHT.
They Were Asked for n Morning
T<ain-GenernI Manager Barr Ex-
pressed Willingness to Put on the
Train If 1T Would Pay Directly or
Indirectly.

General Manager J. NJ. Barr, traffic
manager. W. H. Peasants, and Division
superintendent d. II. Barger, Of the
Seaboard Air Line, arrived here yes
terday afternoon to consult with the
Joint committee OF the Produce Ex-
change. the Gambler of Commerce, the
Merchants Association and the Whole
sale Grocers' Association. with regard
to the movement of these commercial
bodies to secure double daily passenger
service on the Seaboard Air Line.
The visitors were met at the Seaboard
Air Line depot at 2:20 o. m. the train
having been behind time. 1t was u
at 1905 D. m. The party came in the
general managers private car n they
will leave this morning for Portsmouth.
Yesterday afternoon the committee
OF the commercial bodies, accompanied
by the presidents Of the organizations,
took the railroad men on a sail around
the harbor. using the steamer Navassa.
which was rendered by Mr.. II. W. NAL
Shy. president Of the Navassa Guano
Company. After returning to the city,
they were ike in carriages through
the principle streets and were driven
to the extensive trucking suburbs Of
were we'll pleased with what they saw
OF our city, and were specially inter-
ested in the trucking business.
Last night at 8 o'clock General Man
ager Barr and his associates met with
the committee and the business men of
Wilmington representing the Produce
Exchange, the Chamber of Commerce
tn e Merchants Association, n the
Wholesale Grocers' Association.
The meeting was held ~ the rooms of
the Chamber Of Commerce in the Sea-
board Air Line building and was pre-
sided over by Mr.. Philander Pearsall.
president Of the Produce Exchange. Be-
fore the railroad officials arrived in the
meeting. Mr.. II. w. Malloy, Of the joint
committee. stated that during the after
moons association with General Man
ager Barr and the other officials,
they talked over the proposition for .
morning train on the Seaboard Air Lin
He stated what Impressions had been
ande and afterwards, the railroad Of
fcials came into the meeting.
The meeting was called to order by
President Pearsall who stated it's pur-
pose.
Mr.. II. w. Malloy, of the committee.
then stated that the officials a come
here to meet our business men n get
a-I oroo,tosn tho ennti-
ment of our people with reference to
the proposed double daily passenger
service asked for by our commercial
bodies. After going into the matter at
some length, he called on General Man
ager Barr to speak
Mr.. Barr said he had heard from the
committee the request for a morning
train out of Wilmington. and he was
here to meet the business men and talk
over the matter. He said the PROPOSE
ton briefly was hat the Seaboard Air
Line was asked for an additional train.
but that he was satisfied that it would
be run at a loss. He. however, wanted
to meet our people half way and said
while he asked no money from Will
mington. he thought 1t a reasonable re-
quest to know if the support Of our
business public could be assured if his
company puts on q morning train and
runs 1t at q loss. He said if was a mere
business proposition and as he was re-
sponsible to the stockholders he must
go back to them and give them good
business reasons for putting on a train
that it was agreed would be run at a
loss. He said. however. hat he was
disposed to try the morning train If 1T
would pay directly or indirectly. He
said he asked no pledges but would
like to be assured that the Seaboard
Air Lin would get its share Of the
freight business of Wilmington to and
from competitive points in order to
compensate for the loss by the running
OF double passenger trains.
Aessrs- d. l. Gore. w. b. Cooper and
j. c. Stevenson made remarks and ex-
pressed the belief that Wilmington's
business men would be willing to share
their business with the Seaboard Air
Line. Individually. they said they were
willing to do so.
Hessrs. J. A Taylor. Sam Bear. Jr-
Hugh MacRae. M. w. jacob and 9TH
es discussed the matter with Mr.. Barr,
and after both sides had been heard
some motions were made but with
drawn.
The meeting adjourned at 10 o'clock.
and the committee then entertained the
railroad officials at an informal lunch
con at the Elks' club. This courtesy |
was extended by the Elks and an excel
lent lunch was stylishly served by Mr.
J. e. Hinnant. the capable steward of
h club.
Before separating with the committee
General Manager Barr, said he would
write back to the committee his propo-
sition and they could then submit it to
their respective bodies for considera-
tion.
Our business men were glad of the OPP
D~Ortunitv IN meet these representatives