The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-04-18

1t must be managed much the same as
that of a storekeeper who has other
commodities for sale, A reputation for
fair dealing and for the absolutely equal
treatment of all customers is as neces
sary to the lasting success of the seller
of transportation as it is to the seller of
dry goods or groceries. 1t is true that
the buyer of transportation is often
limited to one seller, while the buyer
of dry goods or groceries can go to a
rival across the street, but in the long
run, the good will of the people who
must use railway is essential to its
prosperity. The truth of this should
be constantly in the mind of every rail
way man for the railway can no more
afford to permit passengers and ship
pers to be dealt with unj1stly or to be
treated discourteously than the mer-
chant can allow his clerks to treat his
customers with incivility. In truth,
the fact that buyer of transportation
often has no choice between sellers
makes it the more important that he
should be treated with consideration.
While it is true, as Judge Gage points
out, that q railway is q merchant with
transportation for sale, it is something
more than merchant 1t is, in a sense,
a partner of every farmer, of every mi
ner, of every manufacturer, and of ev-
cry man in business along its lines.
The farmers crop is Of no value to him
unless it can reach a market, and only
q small proportion Of the output of a
mine or factory can be sold in its'im-
mediate locality. Transportation is
necessary to complete production, and
efficient and prompt transportation is
as essential to the farmer as fertile
fields, and to the manufacturer as an
efficient plant. It is, therefore, to the
interest of every one in every commu-
nifty to cooperate in every way possi-
BILE in every effort to bring its transpor-
tation lines to higher state of efficien-
cy and to enable them to perform more
and better service. Here again, is q
reciprocal obligation, and it is the duty
of the railway, as it is also to its ad-
| vantage, to aid in the building up oi
the communities along it's lines. They
must be assured the most favorable
rates to competitive markets at home
and abroad that commercial and trans
portation conditions will permit. Tht
officials of the road, with the opportu
nifty for broad view of the commerce
and industries of the country, must b.
on the constant lookout for opportuni
ties to introduce new industries in thei
territory and to enlarge the markets o
those already in operation.
This principle has been acted upol
by the Southern Railway Compan,
since its organization. One of the frs
: acts OF Mr.. Spencer was the creation o
| land and industrial department TO
] the express purpose of bringing tn
I man looking for chance to better hi
condition into touch with southern OF
/ portunities. The first act of this de
. partment was to invite the co.operatio
/ of all the people along the line OF tn
road and il has continued to pursu
q this policy without discrimination be
tween localities or individuals. II
services have always been at tho dir
4 posal of every state, municipality, ol
!. ganization or individual, and have bee
a given without charge of any kind.
i. has been direct benefit to the sout
i and has benefited the railway only il
directly through the building up of til
/. localities traversed by it. 1t has bee
q conducting great educational worl
i. and, in season out of season, it hs
!. been bringing the advantages and oil
4 portunities of the south to the attentio
|. of investors, home seekers and labore
n in this country and in Europe. I'll
i. result is that the opportunities that
4 man Of industry or man with large
u small capital can find in the southel
"a states are better understood today, bot
ia in the northern states and in Europ
q than ever before. Every man induce
10 to locate on a southern farm or in
n southern factory becomes missional
,e and assists in bringing more fro