The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-07
Among the Railroads.

No general passenger agent Of The
Seaboard Air Line has yet been ap-
pointed. General Traffic Manager, VIM.
H. Peasants, will discharge the duties
of general passenger agent until a sue
cessor to Mr.. Bunch is chosen.
The prospects for building the new
electric railway in Alamance are excel
lent The road will start from West
Burlington, via Graham, Swepsonville to
Pines Falls, on the west side of Haw
rivera distance of twenty miles. It
will later be extended to near by cotton
mills The stock books have been opened
and 100000 has been called for. The
officers elected are: j. w. Menefee,
president; J. S. Thompson, secretary;
George T. Williamson, treasurer. The
following were elected on the board of
directors c. c. Thompson, J. W. Gates,
w. ]. Stackard, J. w. Menefee, j. c.
Simmons, w. A. Hall, George T. Will
hanson.
Persistent reports having been pub
lished to the effect that there was lack
of harmony in the management of the
Seaboard Air Line Railway, Judge Leigh
r. Watts, general counsel of the sys-
tenn, was interviewed by the Ports
mouth Star. His interview is as fol-
lows:
'"While, as rule, I decline to he in
terviewed upon matters touching the
management of the Seaboard Air Line
Railway, / am rather plcsed at the OPP
portunity of stating, as | do in the most
positive ard emphatic manner, that all
reports as to friction or lack of harmony
between the president and first vice
president of the Soaboard Air Line Rail
way are absolutely false and without
foundation.
1.-The report that certain changes in
the bylaws affecting the duties OF these
two officers is equally false, as is the
statement of differences between the
stoC kholders and the bondhOlders. The
latter is too absurd to be noticed.
Both the president and first vice
president are in perfect accord, and in
nothing are they more determined than
to have for the management the hearty
cordial and loyal cooperation and sup
port of the officers and employees.
'Sincc the article first appeared in the
Washington Star every effort has beer
made 10 ascertain the person or persons
responsible for its publication, and in
this we have been partially successful
These inquiries will be pushed until the
guilty parties are ascertained, and if
employees Of the railway they Will be
summarily dealt with"
Then you are of opinion that these re-
ports have been circulated by some en-
plOve or employees of the road?"
Il regret to say that the indications
point that way. and the president aud
board of directors are determined that
no one shall be retained in the service
of the company, either as official or eng
plcye, who is not willing to give hearty
and loyal support to the management
as in no other way can the best results
be obtained and the interests of the
stockholders subserved and promoted"
WAS the resgratiougof General Pas
senger Agent Bunch in any way connect
ed with the circulation of the reports OF
which you speGkT'
'As Mr.. Bunch is no longer in the ser
vcie of the company l think it I'M
necessary to discuss the reasons leading
to his resignation"
ut is, then, your opinion that among
tho executive officials, including heads
of departments, perfect harmony pre-
walls at the present timer"
Il think so, not only among the Off
Gals, but among the employees general
ly. If not so at theA present moment it
viii; be in the near future"
It Will be seen qby the interview that
the railroad has taken heroic action in
the direction of supprcssing the crcu-
latiOn of gossip which having no founda-
ton may injure the road, nevertheless
After an enthusiastic meeting held in
Bayboro, the county commissioners Or
dered an election to be held June 2Sth
to vote on a $50 900 subscription to stock
i'll a railroad. The road is planned to
run from New Bern to BayborO and on
to Vandemere, branch or spur will
take in Stonewall and Oriental. As the
business men of the county seem to be
interested and very much determined in
the matter it is probable that road will
be built.
Col A. B. Andrews, First Vice-presi-
dent of the Southern Railway, expects to
be able to resume his work this month.
He is rapidly regaining his health after
his late illness.