Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-11-05
Street Cars IN THE south.

Street Cars IN THE south.
Heaven to Operate in Says President
-Astonished by Consideration
and Falrness---Why South
ern Cities are Better
Than those at the
North, Etc.
In the Saturday Evening Post has
appeared series of articles, s'The Con-
fessions of Reformed Street Railway
President. The people of the South
will be interested especially in part of
this which appears in the issue of the
Post of Oct. 8. The writer tells long
and vivid story of corrupt and corrupt
ing intercourse between street railways,
local politicians and city governments,
and then says:
This condition of affairs caused me to
look about and take an inventory of
conditions over the United States in
general. 1t seems an anomaly, but
nevertheless it in the truth, that almost
every street railway company prospers
in the inverse ratio of its popularity.
Show me street railway system that
is abused and reviled, and nine times
out OF ten it is in prosperous condi-
ton. Show me one that is enjoying
extreme popularity, and it is safe
guess that it is in none too good fl
nanical condition, and very likely on
the downward road. Popularity is a
luxury which can only be had at pro-
hibitive prices; and in the face of my
early dreams and my best intentions I
found that popularity and the street
railway business are not good compan-
ions. Why this is so do not know.
But have observed that the winning
of popularity is business in itself, and
that it is best left to set of profess
sional men who have made special
study of it. This professional set who
make an asset of popularity are the
politicians who capitalize their special
ty and offer it for sale to the highest
bidder. I find that it is cheaper to buy
my popularity of the politicians rather
than to try to buy it direct from the
public.
SOUTH is DIFFERENT.
A noticeable exception to these con-
ditiOns exists in the South. have had
experience in Southern cities, and to
one who has been accustomed to the
unwarranted abuse street railway cor
poration and its officials are subjected
to in the North, the South is a heaven
of contentment. The owners of the
property referred to had acquired
street railway system in Southern
city. 1t was given into my hands to
put on an efficient footing. When L
took charge of the property the service
! was very much worse than it would
have dared to be in any Northern city.
Cars and tracks were decrepit and hope
lessly worn out, motormen and conduc
tors were negligent of their duties and
the motive power was barely sufficient
to enable the cars to crawl along at a
snaiI's pace. [ looked for the storm of
abuse and protest which had greeted
me in my Northern home, but it did
not come. l felt lonely, for missed
the people who came into my Office,
called me names and told me how to
run my business. 1 missed being stop
ped on the street, several times within
one block, and told of negligence Or dis
obedience Of rules by employees. 1t was
actually uncanny to have everybody
greet me smilingly and treat me with
the acme of politeness. The mayor and
city council, to my surprise, had no
kick coming, and with all the polite
ness and hospitality of genuine South
ern gentlemen invited me to their
homes could not understand condi-
tions at all. When had any business
to take up with the city officials / was
politely invited to a conference; and at
these conferences 1 was treated like a
human being of good breeding and gen.
teel instincts.
WORKED HARD TO RECIPROCATE.
For several weeks after took charge
of this property was unable to remedy
existing conditions, and l actually
hung my head in shame over the street
car service. Nobody else did, SO was
obliged to do it myself, as well as all
the worrying. Not having any serious
complaints coming to me, | had tc
hunt them up myself and find the weak
spots. I never worked so hard in al
my life to provide good service as l die
in this case for just had to better con
ditions out of sheer consideration TO
the politeness of these Southerners, Al
Improvements were made, people be
gan to stop me on the street and com
pliment me, so was compelled to be
lieve that they must have been awar
of the shortcoming OF the old service.
We did not own this Southern prop
erly very long, for it was sold to anoth
er firm presently. But I have sine
then observed several Southern cite
where street railway systems are bein,
operated, and l invariably marvel a
the gentle treatment with which the O1
ficials of the companies are treated b
the public and city administration.
BUT DON'T MAKE 'EM MAD.
OF course, there are some cases wher
the Southern hospitality and toleranc
has been abused, and L have learne
that once the Southern's good will
forfeited it is ten times worse than