The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-10-02
REV. LIE. HALLS ADDRESS AT
OPENING OF HBURG TRACTION
COMPANY'S NE.W OFFICE BLDG.

h been able to obtain This was eontin-
ued until in 1911 the property was
bought by it's present owners and from
this date its progress has been mar
velous. The methods and the spirit
| of It's management, in every phase OF
] its business life and activities have
been Of the highest order possible,
and the wonderful success which it
has attained is a monument to the
wisdom, industry and perseverance of
those who have directed its affairs.
AS a rule, the custom now seems
to be to talk much and do little. These
people have given us an example OF
the opposite. They have talked less
and done more than any folk | have
ever known. This idea of work much
and say but little seems to dominate
everybody connected with it. fire.
quently see the superintendent of the
construction force with the hands
when at work. Everybody is as busy
as a bee in tar bucket. No hurrying,
no scolding but the work is moving.
Evidently, his business is on his mind
and better still, his mind is on his
business. Every employee so far as
l know is imbued with the same
worthy ideas of fidelity to duty. Mr..
c. z. Stevens, the general manager, is
T one of our own boys. Raised in this
community. His success in the de-
velopment of this great public utility
is surprising even to his best friends.
=, His ability to keep his mouth shut
6 when it is wise to do so, and to say
:, what ought to be said when it is wise
=, to say anything, is a source of wonder
to us all He seems to have adopted
, it as a rule never to reply to critl
: cism except in defense of his com
;. pany, and then only in rare instances
=, The controlling motive with the entire
:, management seems to be to do right
!, BECAUSE 1T IS RIGHT. In doing sc
they have reversed the old adage, viz:
might makes right And instead il
: should be, RIGHT MAKES NIGHT
. The disposition to do right, so man
:. ifest in all their contact with the pub
lie has made it strong in the respect
and confidence of the people. AnG
- here l want to say a word for the
, people.
Gentlemen of the Hattiesbure
Traction Company, you have haC
the sympathy and moral support of {
very large per cent of your fellow citi
:. zens during the trying experiences o
the last few years. You never coul'
, have achieved the wonderful success
you have in the face of the fearfu
:. obstacles that you have had to en-
counter, if you had not. You have, b.
your faithful dealing and praiseworth,
"a methods, enthroned your great enter
ID prise in the confidence and sympath
Il of the public which you have tried t
40 serve, and the public in return has civ
10 en- you the fullest measure of its SUI
, port and cooperation. Such is tn
." feeling of this people toward 20
20 that any effort to do you wrong on tn
nc part of anyone or more would fall c
&c it's own weight 1t is a happy cond
~ ton when a people can realize tha
10 the interests of those who represer
" their public enterprises and their ow
W interests are mutual. Such a sent
Oil ment creates and maintains a bond {
~ sympathy that must rebound to tt
~ good of all concerned. Your ente
OH prise was born in a time of prosperit
n If Hattiesburg had continued to j
gu crease in population for the last s
years as it did for the six years pr
vious, we would now have popul
ton of more than thirty thousan
and if its business prosperity and m
terial improvement had increased
the same ratio it would be, by f;
the wealthiest city in the state. l
stead of this we have had to face co
ditions that were appalling. The ia
that our banks and business instit
tons generally have gone throue
safely, and perhaps been made stron
er by the discipline of adversely
much to the credit of all concerne
and furnishes a guarantee for a glol
Gus future as past trials are succeedt
by better days.
The success of the Hattiesbul
Traction Company in spite of all IL
discouragements of the time is one
the business miracles of this perio
If it was born in prosperity it ce
tainly has been Graded in adversely.
have frequently wondered how i
managers could hope for even a sma
measure of success have wondere
If the darkness of the situation did NJ
II nnahin tbnp, 70 can cko ra L. kha 1o