The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-12-06
IN SERVICE TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.

Saturday afternoon saw a gracious
recognition OF loyalty and service by
one Of those corporations we are wont
to call "soulless." II was the distri-
button OF service medals to over 400
men who had served the Southern for
quarter Of a century or more. The
medals were not sent by mail, or given
out by n local interchangeable presi-
dent OF the Southern railway came all
the way from Washington TO give them
to the men personally. and show them
that 1t was not mere empty honor,
but real feeling OF appreciation and
pride which the road took IN It's en-
ployes.
Truly there are heroes of peace
equally with those of war, and II is
such heroes Of faithful service that in
dustry 10 learning to appreciate and
| reward. Morale" was pregnant
word In regard to the efficiency Of the
armies; Its value in the armies of In
dustry Is truly as great and az well
worth seeking.
When the government returned the
railroads to private control. It offered
them guarantee for the ensuing six
months OF the same profit that they
had made under federal management.
AL roads but one gladly took UP this
offer. The one road was the Southern.
whose president, Mr.. Harrison, felt that
this guarantee was not Just either in
principal or In amount and decided Ia
go it, alone.
The end OF the FIRST six months
showed the Southern had done better
away from the sheltering federal wing
than II would have II II had taken tn,
government guarantee. II earned some
$4,000 more than would have come t.
IL otherwise. To accomplish this END
the Southern depended on the energy
loyalty and enterprise OF It's employees
from engineer to freight clerk; It knew
the type OF men II had; that over 4,00t
OF these men had stuck by II through
thick ana thin. In the fat years and II
the lean years, for over q quarter OF
century. and that there were many
more thousands who had a period O
service almost that long.
THE Southern serves the south" Il
the motto Of this railroad; It might vel
add another. Judging from the success
OF Its quarter Of century loyalty
medals. OF THE Southern appreciated
faithful servants"
Those men, who stick by an snsin,
cab for twenty-five years, first feedinI
endless shovelfuls of coal into the In
satiate fire. then with theh keen aye
day after day watching the tract
ahead, making connections, carrying
the responsibility of hundreds OF live
In the coaches behind them. are wei
worthy OF medal. The hand at tn
throttle in the engine cab has playe,
big part in the nations work. Blu
we can also sing the praises OF the sta
tion agent with his books OF tariffs
,, rates and way bills. tracing shipments
, answering questions. soliciting freight
,, sometimes sitting at the wire to &c
the orders for the passage OF the loca
r accommodation and the southbound OK
l press
!, There Ia romance In the rails. thos
: grlzEled veterans OF q quarter OF a cen
, fury likely have many tales OF hero
ism, fidelity and resource. Some dec
A AIDES ago the railr1a were called IN
empire builders Of the west. We c
tho south have the coming empire I
be built, and our railroads can an
: seem DESTROYS to play an essential pal
in that reELrgence. Recognition
= faithful service Ia sure to aid them
their work