1958 - Incoming N&W President Fears Rail Nationalization

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Roanoke Times - March 30, 1958

Incoming N&W President Fears Rail Nationalization

   Railroads will be threatened with nationalization, unless they 
receive tax and legislative relief, Stuart T. Saunders, president 
elect of the Norfolk and Railway, said yesterday.
   Saunders, who will become president of the N&W on April 1, 
succeeding R. H. Smith, who is retiring, spoke to the yesterday's 
session of N&W's 33rd annual Better Service Conference.
   Others who spoke on the closing program where H. C. Wyatt, vice 
president and general manager; F. S. Baird, vice president in charge 
of traffic; and C. E. Pond, general superintendent of motive power.

   ". . . Railroads have been regulated to the brink of ruin." 
Saunders declared. "Time and again, they have been forced to continue 
unprofitable operations which no regulatory agency would consider 
requiring of other modes of transportation."

   Legislation to give relief has been introduced in Congress, 
Saunders said, but opposition by competitors makes its outcome uncertain.
   The incoming president praised the contribution to the N&W of R. 
H. Smith, who retires Monday.

   ". . . The character of Mr. Smith has been indelibly impressed on 
the Norfolk and West" he said. "In and age when first principles have 
lost their attraction for many Mr. Smith's dedication to these 
principles will be a continuing source of inspiration to all of us."

   At the end of the conference the delegates gave Smith a standing 
ovation when he ended the meeting.
   "I'll be watching the N&W will anticipation of continued progress." he said.
   Wyatt told the 500 delegates of radar being used in the 
classification yard at Portsmouth, Ohio.
   Radar, similar to that used by police on the highways, records the 
speed of coasting cars. It is flashed to a control tower where a man 
operates a car retarder, or braking device.
   Also, he said, radio is being used for communications in some of 
the N&W's large yards.
   Pond spoke on operation and urged the men to constantly try to 
improve service.
   "If we have the will to work long enough, and hard enough, an 
improvement will be effected." he said.
   Baird called upon all N&W men to pull together to help the 
railroad give better service to customers.
   Committee reports given yesterday included one titled "Fair 
Treatment for the Railroads - Your Help is Needed."
   The report urged all employes to help inform the public, including 
shippers and passengers, of the "the predicament of the railroads."

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link