The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-20
The PUBLIC and
THE RAILWAYS.
President Finley, Of Southern,
Discusses Relation Of Roads
to the People.
ASKS FOR CONFIDENCE
Decries Tendency Of Age to Dis.
credit Purposes Of Managers.
Much Yet to Do.

ATLANTA. GA, March ,1o,-Tho
address OF President w. w Finley, OF
the Southern Railway, on "The Rela-
lions OF Railways TO the Public" was
the feature Of the annual dinner of the
Atlanta Chamber OF Commerce here
Tonight. An attendance of four hun
dred representative citizens, num-
Der of prominent railroad men, and q
large representation from the Seed
Crushers' Association Of Georgia, made
the occasion OF more than usual in
terest Besides President Finley, the
speakers were President James A. Ay-
cock, Of tho Seed Crushers' Association,
on 'The Cotton OIL Industry" and the
retiring and, incoming presidents of
the Chamber OF Commerce.
Among those present were Governor
j. M. Terrell, President j b. Hanson,
OF the Central Of Georgia Railroad.
c.. A. Wickersham, president OF the
Atlanta and West Point. and other
prominent railroad officials.
President Finley devoted his re-
marks entirely to the relations
hand. and the people and the
State and national governments, on
the other hand Without referring
to any specific action by Congress or
the State Legislatures, Mr.. Finley in
Dictated his belief that tho present
trend OF Legislation endangers the
prosperity OF the railroads and Of the
country alike.
Mr.. Finley said 1t had always been
! the desire Of the railways to maintain
cordial relations with the people along
their lines, and that the railways must
cultivate the good Will and co.oper ra
! ton OF the lfpublic by tho adoption
and PRONUNCIATION of economically and
commercially sound prH,ciples in the
| conduct ofatllcr business.
Need Better Facilities.
Mr.. Finley reviewed the progress of
the South, ,and said that It's pressing
need to-dnyis for better and more
extensive transportation facilities.
IF the railways are to secure tho
to enable them to meet the rapidly
increasing demands for their services"
1 he said, their credit must be such as
to assure Investors of reasonable
return upon their money The South
now. has rates that enable Southern
/ producers n to. market their products
| in widely separated home and foreign
markets on such terms as promptly as
| is desirable. Every shipper wants low
| rates. but whom rates are SO low as
| to enable him to reach competitive
4 markets onfterms at least as favor
4
4 and efficient Service becomes OF more
Importance than rateSrcduction. The im-
I perative need of the South day is
improved transportation service am
4 sure that the Intelligent business men
5lfof this section will agree with me
that improved facilities are more ur-
4 gently needed than any reduction in
4 charges 5sEl
i After referring to the public aid
/ given to railway construction In the
i carly days, Mr.. Finley said the great
4 need in the economic situation in the
South to-day Is that the entire Deo-
y pie OF that section should realize that
not passed and that there Is now as
4 much need of encouragement, not iinan-
5cial, but of the moral favor and support
a of the public as ever
A Contract Drawn.
While approving thee policy OF im-
proving rivers and harbors at public
4 expense. Mr.. Finley contrasted the at
titude Of the public towards carriers
4 by water and by rail. pointing out
jEthat the former pays nothing for his
highway; that 1t is maintained and
improved at public expense while the
u carrier by rail must construct his own
Il highway. must pay heavy taxes and Is
J. subjected to increasing government tai
j supervision and regulation. lie urged
a popular understanding OF the fact
that rail transportation Is more i'm,
portant than water transportation, ex-
pressing the belief that when the inter
people is understood, the people vii
be as reluctant to place obstacles u
the way of railroad Improvement AZ
!, they would be to oppose the improve
7 lnent of waterways, ~
Expressing the BELIEF that there II