Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-06-12
ASSURANCE GIVEN THAT The
SHOPS ARE TO REMAIN HERE
President W. j. Harahan Of the SGabOard Reached Amer
iCuS Yesterday and Had Cordial and Satisfactory
discussion Of Matters With Citizens Here

AS had been anticipated when Prest-
cent w. ]. Harahan, of the Seaboar1,
.aert d to come to Americus for a con-
ference, the result of that conference
held yesterday morning was all THAI
could be desired by the people of Amer
icus. President Harahan was cordi&l
and friendly in his discussion of ia
matter and gave assurance that the =
vas no intention on the part of the
Seaboard to move the shops from
Americus.
The reduction of the working force
at the local shops, according to Mr..
Harahan is only part Of a general
movement in the way of retrenchment
which the Seaboard has inaugurated,
as it has been found necessary to cur
tail expenses. Formerly number o,
workmen have been kept here at ali
actual loss, when they could have beeA
employed more proftably at Savannah
or Jacksonville. 1t was to the inter-
est of the railroad to move these work.
men and they have been moved.
There will not be any further reduc-
tien of the working force here, said
Mr.. Harahan, while it will be increased
when found necessary, In speaking
of the reduction made in the payroll
it was explained by Mr.. Harahan that
this would not amount to very much.
Using figures to make this point clear
er, Mr.. Harahan said that formerly the
payroll here had amounted to approx
imately $350,000 annually This would
be reduced only $4,000 in the aggr :
gate, cutting down the annual pay
roll here to about 100000, or about
$4,000 from the monthly payroll of
approximately $4,000.
While it is a matter of regret to the
business men here that the laborers
at the shop must be curtailed at ALL
it is nevertheless gratifying to them
that the loss is to be so very small
while it may be made up entirely later
on. Since the visit of President Hara>
han the business men understand thor
oughly the position of the railroad
management, which is forced to make
this reduction on a purely business
basis There is no grievance against
Americus at all, is the assurance Civ
en-. but the reduction is made because
of the imperative need the railroad
has for the money which they would
lose by operating the shops as former
ly
The manner in which President
Harahan discussed the matter with the
members of the committees and the
people of Americus was thoroughly
pleasing, as he appeared to the people
here a sensible, business man, who has
the interests of the corporation he re-
presents at heart, but is willing to
hear any legitimate complaint or to
discuss any matter. that may be Of
benefit to the railroad and to the peo-
ple which it serves. The position If
the city in the matter was presented t.
him fully and exhaustively, and he lis
tened to each detail of the history of
the shops, including the contract that
had been entered into originally ny
the CITY anu Tic dIliOdu NhlSh plCCGu-
ed the Seaboard in the management of
the shops.
While he was the guest of the city
President Harahan was shown every
possible courtesy. The special train
on which he came arrived at 1884
o'clock yesterday morning, having been
met by Mayor NJ NJ Lowrey and the
members of the aldermanic committee,
Messrs. Lee Allen, Thomas L. Bell and
T. S. Bolton with whom were President
O. J. Clark of the Board of Trade, with,
whom were the members of the Board
of Trade committee. Messrs. John W.
SILVER, L. G. Council and j. A. Hixou