| From the Jacksonville (Ala.) Republican |
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| July 9, 1864 |
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| From the Daily Reporter |
| To the Stockholders of the Alabama & Tennessee River Railroad |
| Hearing some expressions of
dissatisfaction with the administration of your road, (which feeling, I
am frank to confess, I shared to some extent,) and knowing that efforts
are being made to effect a change in the particular. I have thought well
over this matter, examined into the working operations of the road --
its earnings and expenses -- its condition and prospects -- and brought
myself to the conclusion that "'tis wise to let well enough alone." |
| Doubtless, there may be some just
complaints against the present administration. And it is equally certain
that in some particulars it might be improved upon, but the question is,
is it in the main good? Are you likely by a change to improve upon it?
Who among you stockholders posses more of the qualifications of a
President than the present incumbent? These are the questions for you to
decide: and in coming to your conclusion, gentlemen, I beg to remind
you: ' tis not every successful merchant or planter who would make a
good railroad President. He should be possessed with various and
peculiar qualifications, for railroading is a business peculiar to
itself. 'Tis an easy matter to detect errors -- find faults and turn out
a good officer. The great difficulty is to get a better. The Alabama &
Mississippi Rivers Railroad tried the experiment of a change to their
sorrow and loss -- tried, two men within the last few years and was
finally for ??? return the road to its old discarded chief, against whom
so many complaints have been made. See that you dont re-enact the same
history. Not long since, I travelled to Virginia and back, and I am sure
I saw no more comfortable cars anywhere on the route than upon this
road. The conductors were no where more polite, attentive or efficient.
The ride upon none of the roads was neither so rapid nor so comfortable
as upon this, because of its superior condition. These are facts every
traveler will corroborate. Upon inquiry, I find the gross earnings of
this road, for the last twelve months, to be largely over $1,000,000 --
the net earnings more than $645.000 -- a result I am sure, fully equal
to the expectations of any reasonable man. That due regard was paid to
economy, it is but necessary to say that the entire working expense was
only forty per cent. upon the gross amount of earnings. |
| The President of this road has done
especially good service in the Legislature. No man could have done
better, and much yet remains there for him to do. |
| I hope, gentlemen, we may have a full
attendance at the next meeting of stockholders, and that you may all
deliberate long and well before changing a well tried and faithful
officer for one who, in all probability, may not be his equal. |
| A. K. Shepard |
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