The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-03-25
MEDALS FOR RAILRoADERs.
southern to Honor Twenty Five Year
Men

One thousand seven hundred and
ffty-eight men in the employ Of the
Southern Railway company represent
ing all ranks and all classes, from
general olficer to blacksmiths helper,
who have exceeded 25 years Of. con-
tinu0us service on the road, will short
ly be awarded q medal each by Pres
ident Fairfax Harrison In recognition
Of their achievement and to commem-
crate their honorable record,
The presentation Of the medals will
be made personally BY. Mr.. Harrisoa
to all those entitled to them during
the NEXT two weeks, He gave out
the Arst Of the medals at, Washinstea
March 15, and arranged TO- deliver
medals at the following points on the
dates mentioned: Alexandria March
1S;, Greensboro, March 17;a< Charlotte,
March 1s; Atlanta. March -. Biz
Fminsham, March 20; Knoxville, March
IL -and-Ht. Louis, March %.
- In announcing the plan; the follow.
ing statement was issued by; President
Harrison: .....s :. <.. 80 ;..,lI.. .ss. ~: +.
:ssSouthern Railway eenpany. hsa in
|Ass service 1888 men OF an ranks and
|aH e,asses !: from general. ofscer.tto
hlaaksmith's helper who have exceed
|ed,.S5 Years of. continuous service on
|the-road. There are indeed, s4 mon
WHO have exceeded 50: years. OF such
service andeit Is also. OF. interest that
there are 2s6a negroes. :. on the liss:
These men, are the hest men Che coma
pany caffaes on its rolls for they have
proven their loyalty and their fitness
for their several responsibilities in the
hard school Of experiences and by sur
Ivival Of the strict discipline which is
necessary in the administration Of a
railroad. "a -
ITO recognize their achievement and
to commemorate their honorable rec
ord, the company has arranged to
award to each one Of them medal,
which they can wear as long as they
live and hand down as an heirloom to
their families
The medal is Of bronze and is of
highly artistic design. 1t IL the work
of the distinguished sculptor, Victor
Brenner Of New York, who was rec
commended to the company by the di-
rector Of the mint. The artist Is best
known perhaps for his design of tho
current Lincoln penny. The diverse
Of the medal bears the inscription: !:
southern Railway company, for 10y
atty" and shows an actual scene on
the road, a section Of modern double
track equipped with automatic signals,
with an all steel passenger train rum
ming through the mountains Of north
Georgia. President Harrison's plan
was to! show a typical Industrial scene
with factory in the background. but
the sculptor would not agree that a
factory was capable of artistic treat
ment and insisted on mountains. It is,
however. fortunate for the company
and for those who will wear the med
ais that there are factories on the line
as we'll as scenery. The reverse Of
the medal shows three symbols of
modern railroading: A telephone dis
patcher at his switchboard, a section
gang engaged in maintenance and a
large heavy power press to represent
the shop crafts. Thus each principal
branch Of service is indicated. On the
reverse also is engraved the name of
the man to whom the medal is award
ed, with the dates of his service rec
erd.