Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-15
CAUSES ARE EXTERNAL;
INTERNAL CONDITION 5000
President Harrison, Of the Southern,
Is Observation-Disclosures
In the South.
PoLloi no BE COPIED AFTER
Short Talk With Man Who Knows
His Business-Smaller Enterprises
and Business Concerns Can Take
Notice.

President Fairfax Harrison hurriedly
passed through the city one night last
week. Ttmes-Dlspntch man caught
him on the fy. and asked for an inter
View. limo was limited. and AIR. IIar-
rison could say but worry little, but
| that little was to tho point. Said hc:
AS Indicating tho necessity for. the
policy Of strict .retrenehnent inau-
Company about the middle OF October,
Wish to call your attention to the
fact that. while there was small In
crease in gross operating revenues In
gressirs decrease in such revenues
since the European war began. For
August this decrease amounted to leo
per cent, for September. 8.33 per cent,
results OF ope ration for October arc not
yet In hand. but for September tho
decrease In gross operating revenues
OF S.33 por cent resulted In 4 decrease
OF not operating revenues OF 27.S4 per
cent. 1t was not until the tendency
OF revenues was clearly apparent after
tho close OF September that retrench-
mont was begun with the purpose OF
holding expenses within actual rcvcn-
ucB. This has been both u difficult and
u d!Sagreeable task, but VIC believe we
now have our situation safely under
control.
TOOK THINGS AS THEY
SAW THEM At GLANCE
Tho management or Southern Rail
way Company has not deluded Itself
with the belief that this curtailnlent
OF expense Is In every case an economy.
II Is clearly a necessary war measure,
accomplished largely at the expense OF
the convenience OF the people OF the
South, and at serious loss TO many
officers and>employcs. Every EFFORT is
being made to avoid curtailment OF.
necessary maintenance work. and in'
that interes: the cuts have been made.
80 far as possible. IN matters affect
ing the convenience of tho public M
distinguished from matters affecting
safety and efficiency OF operation IN
which the public has larger interest
II am glad TO say that the orSania-
tion OF Southern Hallway officers and
employees Is responding nobly 20 the
calls made on them by this emergency,
and are doing better work than they
have ever done.
EVERYBODY TRYING TO
HELP IN AN EMERGENCY
Il am glad also TO certify that, liz
accordance with the spirit OF President
Wilson's recent letter TO the railways,
most OF the public authorities. most OF
the commercial organizations and many
private citizens throughout the South
have shown a Just appreciation OF the
present problem oc tho railways, and
have given us their earnest and patient
cooperation In matters Involving per-
sonal ana business sacrifice to many
individuals who use our lines.
'As evidenced by Ste continuance OF
construction work for which capital
FUNDS were provided last spring. the
management Of the Southern Railway
Company Is steady in Its confidence that
the preaent situation IN tho South it
temporary. because the causes or II
arc external and not internal. The
South has been prosperous In recent
years, ana Is now better able than
ever before to sustain period OF
depression. and TO recover from It
promptly whom tho pressure is re-
l!eved As soon as the various efforts
now making for cooperative relief OF
tho cotton situation show results. wo
believe that Improvement Of general
business Will DO a, once apparent"