The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-01
$2s,2so.744.o2
Milton Smith Writes
Letter to All Men
Employed by L. & n.
OF BIRMINGHAM. ALA.
STATEMENT MARCH A, 1918


President Milton H. Smith of the Louis
Vile and Nashville railroad has adj
dressed letter to every man in the en-
ploy of the Louisville and Nashville rail-
road, urging them to be loyal to the gov
eminent, and do as well by the govern
ment as they did for the railroad be-
fore the government took charge
1ne letter follows:
Louisville, KY, March %, 1918.
To the Officials and Employees of the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad Com
pany:
The President of the United States hav-
ing heretofore taken over the control of
the railroads of the country and COM
mitted their operation to a director gen
eral, and the railway control BILL" fix
ing the terms and conditions of govern
ment control, having become a law, have
thought it proper briefly to remind you
of some features of the new order of
things.
The property Of this company will be-
long to the government as lessee for a
war ends, unless the President shall see
fit to restore it sooner; and every dollar
now received or expended is the govern
ment's money. But with the property
there passed as an asset of equal value
the efficiency of vast army of trained
railroad men. Accordingly, the old or
SANITATION of our company-its officials
and employes-now constitute govern
mental agency engaged for the time be-
ing in the operation of this particular
railroad system, but entirely subject to
the supervision and direction of the di-
rector general or his duly constituted
representatives.
For convenience the country has been
divided into three territorial districts,
eastern western and southern. Over
each of these has been appointed a
regional director The lines of the Louis
VILE and Nashville lie within the south
ern district, of which Mr.. G. II. Mark
ham, formerly president of the Illinois
Central Railroad company, is regional
director with headquarters at Atlanta,
Georgia.
Necessarily, things will not be as they
were Mistakes, tot, may occur as here
tofore: but let there be no adverse crit
icisim or disloyal spirit. If you have any
suggestion which, in your opinion, VIII
improve the service, tell it to your SUI
perior officer, who will report 1T to this
department If meritorious it will be
brought to the attention of the regional
director.
The government will doubtless effect
combinations of positions and adopt 9TH
err methods of consolidation and re-
trenchment, which may necessitate dis-
nensing with the services of some persons
now in the company's employ. Regretta-
HE as this would be, it should be ac-
cented as one of the exigencies of the
war. for the winning of which each one
Of us must make whatever sacrifice is
required.
LET me here say that my chief pride
IN administering the affairs of this COM
nanv in the past has been the splendid
lovalty and efficiency of its officials
and employees 1t is still my earnest de-
sira that in this new relation, you main
tain these distinctive characteristics TO
the highest degree. for your new posi-
zion is now more elevated and more I'M
nortant--vou are in the direct service OF
vour country in time of war, as much SO
az the army or the navy, and in WORK
almost as important
In this the crisis of our countrys MS
tory. the one great necessity that stands
o,,t pre-eminent above all others at nome
10 an adequate transportation system.
In undertaking itself to supply this the
government has entered upon huge ex-
,,eriment. the success of which is of vital
inportance 1t must succeed, but 1t can
do so only by the complete cooperation.
absolute loyalty and devoted service OF
YOU and of men like you.
r have full faith that you will meet
+,,,s fest to the dttermost and will give
to the country the best that is In you.
Yours very truly
MILTON Fl. SMITH, Presiden.