The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-19

so SAYS PRESIDENT FINLEY

! Recently The representatives Of the
freight and passenger departments OF
the Southern Railway were brought to-
sether In Atlanta for conferences and
We're addressed by Mr.. w. w. Finley,
( the new president OF the road THE
following extracts from the presidents
address may be regarded as the texts
about which lie built DISCOURSE that Is
OF interest to the public as well Us to
the men to whom 1t was addressed.
Among other things, Mr.. Finley said:
Your duties are of Il twofoli nature.
You owe duties to the railway company
| by which YOU are employed, ana you
owe duties TO the public, These double
duties do not In any way result in con-
ilict or divided allegiance, for he serves
| the railway best who serves the public
/ best.
"'rhe general officers of railway
have unfortunately. too few opportu-
mites for meeting and talking With the
people who are dependent upon the road
| for transportation services. The man
having business relations with the road,
as n rule. comes into personal con-
tact with the local Representatives Of
| the traffic and operating departments.
! The policies OF the railway are formu-
!; lated and mapped out by tho general Of
! flcers, but the application OF these poll
| cies to specific transactions must he
| entrusted In the main to men in the
| field. 1t follows then that ybu have
in a substantial sense the reputation of
the Southern Railway Company for fair
and Just dealing IN your hands.
whether tho company shall be pop
ular or unpopular depends in very
lt,,,. ftt1 IN
ward the public and upon your trent
ment of those doing business with
the road. 1t Is of supreme Importance.
therefore, that you. who daily come
Iinto intimate personal contact with
the public. should bear in mind con-
stantly that 1t is the unvarying policy
OF tire comptny to he Just and fair
The occasional traveller. as well as
to the large shipper and the regular
traveller: that you should be per-
icctly frank in all business deal
|ings; that you should always be
considerate and patient, and that you
should do all In your power to, make
the services of the road satisfactory TO
those for whom they are performed"
"All classes OF the public should be
treated with consideration and be
given every possible and reasonable
accommodation. Even the man who
makes impossible or unreasonable de-
mands should not be dismissed with
a curt refusal. lie may not know that
what he asks Is either impossible or
unreasonable. and few words OF
frank explanation pointing out to him
why his wishes cannot be complied
with may send him away friend Of
the road instead of fault-nnder."
Gas representatives of the Southern
/, Railway Company yon should bear In
- ~ 1,,et foot Int
the interests of the railway and Of those
served by 1t are identical and that they
are inseparably interviewer. The railway
can prosper only as result of the pros
perity of communities by which the de-
mand for transportnti! Is increased. and
the prosperity Of the South can continue
and can be brought to the highest possible
level only through adequate and efficient
transportation facilities. At the present
time when every effort Is being made
to supply additional facilities and more
efficient services, nothing is more i'm
portant than that the truth of this propo-
! sition should he realized by men in all
| lines OF business. When once this iden-
| tity of interests Is thoroughly understood
! the railroads of the South and the peo-
pie will lie brought together IN more
| harmonious cooperation for the develop
I, ment Of the natural resources OF the
| South and for the expansion OF all lines
| of industry. The mon in the freight and
| passenger departments arc IN q position
! to do much. to bring about tins mutual
! good understanding and this harmonious
| CORPORATION for the upbuildng o: the
| territory traversed by the lines Of the
| company. Your careful attention to the
! wants OF the people and your consldcrate
| treatment of every one having business
| with the road will servo as constant
object lesson Of its interest IN the lnd'vid-
/
"My personal experience conV'nces l,le
| that the people as a rule are lar
minded, and when fully informed cai'
be relied upon to deal justly VITA t''e
transportation interests
Division Freight Agent i. D. Mean
lev. of the Norfolk and Western, whose
office is in this city, has perfected q
scheme for hurrying Richmond freight
and keeping tho Richmond merchants
| advised rs to their shipments. mo
plan Will be Of great beneht TO the
| jobbcrs who buy In large lots IN West
! crn and Northern markets. IN a lei
ter addressed to Mr.. r, A. Dunlop
secretary of the Chamber of Com
merce, Mr.. Mcnnlcy has explained the
| scheme, to which he refers as follows:
II appreciate the factthat the whole
| sale business Of Richmond Is grow
ling daily, and 1t is necessary for tho
/ transportation lines 70 give dlspateh
movement OF frcights md to be in
position to advise tho Richmond mcr-
| chants from time to time with refer
| enco to the movement of carload
freights into Richmond [ think /
| have perfected scheme to give this
Information to merchants handling
| business via Norfolk ana Western
| Railway to Richmond The system
referred to. operated in my office. Will
| keep the merchants advised In regard
| to movement of their freights from
! tho West via our line; reports fur
! nisled from junction points. and r
| will be glad to have our Richmond
/ merchants inspect this system now in
| effect In my office"