The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-13
General Officials Met at Station
With Brass Ba nds.
VALUABLE SEED SOWN.
Result Of "Get Acquainted Trip
Can BE Seen Now.
Other Items of General Inter-
est to Traffic World.


them and talking to them, are making
a much greater success of the under
taking than Mr. Ripley had dreamed.
1t is doubtful if President Ripley had
the slightest idea that at a majority
of the towns and cities in Kansas
where the official train stopped the
citizens would be at the station en-
masse with their brass band playing
patriotic airs and with waiting motor
cars for complimentary tour of the
city.
1t is unlikely that Mr. Ripley imag
ined the people would prepare ''smok-
-ers," mass meetings, formal CONNER
cial gatherings and a general recep-
ton for his representatives.
But this is just. what the people of
Kansas have been doing this week in
honor of the officials of the Santa Fe
who have been making for their road
an asset that was never before enjoyed
feeling of friendliness and respect for,
the general officers and for the man
agement of the road.
The first week of the ''Get Acquaint-
ed" trip, which started this Monday
under the personal direction of ]. r.
Koontz, general freight agent togeth-
er with E. L. Copeland, treasurer, John
Purcell superintendent of the shops,
G. w. Kouns, general manager, J. F.
farrell, publicity agent, superintendent
Tice, and several others, has shown
the Santa Fe people that the people
of the state are not nursing the sup
posed feeling of hatred against the A.
T. & S. F. And, it has shown the peo
pie of the cities towns and villages
that the officials of a railroad are not
the ''rawhiding- brass-collars'' that
seems to be the prevalent conception
of a corporation official.
The Santa Fe-and all other rail-
roads-has been allowing its company
for all time to be represented in a town
by the agent and by the brakemen and
trainmen who happen to drop off at the
water tank long enough to explode at
each other in the worst of language
and then depart with fingers twirling
at their noses
The average agent at a country town
station is a good fellow when all is
going well but when he is receiving
two dispatches at the same time, when
a mob of angry trainmen are crowding
around his desk hollering for orders
when all of this is on tap the average
agent has little time to be pleasant
with the inquiring public. The life Of
a station agent in a small town is
made up Of several duties everything
from sweeping out the depot to brush
ing up his clothes and acting like a
diplomat when the officials go by.
When there are two railroad lines
entering a town the people invariably
IH6 one TOdu DSCduSS II mas
an agent who will appreciate a favor,
a man who is thankful for what the
people do for the railroad and a man
who is civil in his answers to all ques-
tions.
The form Of a general official of the
system is unknown in these towns. In
fact a general officer is not consider
ed a human being-he is a sort of an
exalted ruler over the kingdom.
In bringing out this harmony tour
President Ripley, of the Santa Fe, has
struck a responsive cord in Kansas
and the result will be a tingling of the
music for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe all over the country
1t would have done Mr.. Ripley good
to have seen Treasurer Copeland make
a run for the country banks, wiring the
hand of the officers and with his voice
Keeling forth words of praise for the
appearance of the bank and it's finan-
cial showing, make the bankers feel
at home in his presence-and he, the
treasurer and secretary of the great
Santa Fe.
Another moving picture of General
Freight Agent Koontz leaping here
and there talking to the farmers, the
merchants and the shippers, smooth
ing out their complaint wrinkles and
promising them personal service in the
future, would make Mr.. Ripley nod his
head in approval.
Then take John Purcell, who is dis
tributing good news about the Santa
Fe apprentice educational system, slid
ing up with brakes set to the pretty
schoolma' ans and telling them with
enthusiasm of the value of this great
work-if President Ripley could see the
glances of the school teachers as they
watched superintendent Purcell walk
down the street.-the would publish
broadcast the fact that his superin-
tendent of the Topeka shops is NOT
a married man.
And in the meetings afterward to
hear Superintendent Tice tell his or
iginal railroad stories mixed with
sound logic regarding the freight rate
situation and the relation of the general
public to the operating department of
the Santa Fe; to listen to General Man
ager KOuns give forth in that convinc-
ing manner of his the reason of the
get acquainted trip and the feeling
of friendship held for the people by
the Santa Fe; to take note of the
facts and figures produced in such a
practical manner by Chief Engineer
Felt; to feel that the passenger bust
ness of the road was under the care
of such a popular man with the people
as General Passengr Agent Council.
All of these things together with the
good impression of the road obtained
from the glad tidings sent forth by
Publicity Agent JarreIl-a man who
needs no introduction in any town or
city or the state ana a man VINO was
in constant demand on all occasions
all of these things would have made
President Ripley proud of the day he
originated such a means of getting
closer to the people-getting to the
grass roots of public sentiment.
Not a person denies the fact that the
/ ''Tiding's Train of the Santa Fe is
sowing the seed of friendship between
the people of the state of Kansas and
the railroad corporations within this
| state.
From the manner in which this seed
| has been sown-prospects for a bumper
| crop are brilliant.