The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-07
Wednesday, March Z, 1906
CONGRESSMAN Aiken'S Letter.

" SonA
Congressman Wyatt Aiken's letter to the
President of the Southern Railroad is a
swarm number" The complaints about
belated trainsswill DO regarded just. but the
funny part of the letter lies in where he
undertakes to tell the railroad folk facts and
dates as 10 the arrival or non.arrival Of the
trains. Nobody Is supposed to keep half SO
clear and speciflca record Of the trains as do
the tra~in-dlspatchers. 1t Is fair to assume
that President Andrews has a record.
Mr.. Aiken seems not TO take In the real
cause of delay in running the trains. The
Press and Banner would charge 1t up to the
unprecedented and unexpected increase CT
freight and passenger traffic. We would at
tribute the cause of complaint to two
causes:
First-To increased prosperity Of the coun-
try.
~second-To the employment of efficient sta.
tion agents who bring In more business than
the trainmen can handle.
To remedy the rush OF business and the
overtaxing Of the trainmen, we recommend
the turning of OF all station men. who by
efficiency, politeness and favoritism of the
public who have contributed to the overtax-
ing OF the engines, cars and traInmen. B.
putting the different stations into the hands
OF less efficient and less courteous agents the
business could readily be reduced to tht
capacity OF the transportation ability OF the
road. And our W agents at Abbeville hav,
contributed largely TO the increase OF the
freight business TO Abbevllle. II they will
remove Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Morrow and pu,
the station in charge OF less efacient and les.
obligipg men, 1t will be only a short time I'm
I'll Captain Williams, Baggage Master Syfap
aud Engineer Mcpherson can readily move
all the freight coming to Abbeville.
The railroad folk are no doubt more per-
picked about the delayed trains than the
travelling public, and the authorities Of that
great institution must do something. They
must either turn of their efficient station
agents or buy more trains. While they can
easily enough get rid OF agents who crcw I'd
trains beyond their capacity, It is a more
! dinicult job 10 increase rolling stock 10 meet
the demands Of the prosperous South. We
believe that nobody keeps in stock such
things as locomotive engines, box cars or fla,
cars, n our Information is to the effect tina
such things are made to order. And It takes
time 10 make them. Nobody anticipated the
immense prosperity which has come to the
South, and hence good agents and a large
volume OF business has overwhelmed the
railroads. The IA cts which Mr.. Aiken recite
do not show dereliction on the part of the
railroad half as plainly as 1t shows the pros
perity or the Land OF Cotton. Railroad folk
are practical business men, and the high sal.
aries which they are paid insures the best
possible service. They are In the railroad
business and 1t may be set down as a fact
that the evils complained OF will be RENE.
died.
While this editor ia under no obligation TO
the railroad, yet the railroad has a big Job on
Its hands in serving a country which has so
suddenly developed such great prosperity
The outrageous verdicts against the railroads
In damage suits seems little less than high.
way robbery.
While we think MIR. Aiken's letter is not
without grounds for complaint, and while we
know tha his constituents will appreciate
and will regard with kindness his watchful-
ness In their behalf, yet let US not be unrea-
sonable.
Nc man has ever been more active or more
jealous In behalf of the people than Mr.
Aiken, and, II we give the road q little time
It shall be seen that MIR. Aiken's stirring up
OF the animals will have the desired result.
Mr.. Aiken is all the time looking out for the
welfare and happiness Of the people. His
fidelity in jabbing the railroad and bis
watchfulness over our postofice are only in
stances Of his devotion. II you have any
doubt as to his attention to his people JUS,
write him q letter or a postal card on any sub
ject and then walt a little for the answer. II
be doesn't pay special attention to a person.
al request, then you telegraph the fact to the
Press and Banner at our expense. His father
the Hon. D. Wyatt Aiken. made a good con
gresham, and the son starts out with service
TO the people where the father left of
Another good thing abort Mr.. Aiken Is, that
he seems to have the ear and the respect OF
the President.