Semaphore - January 1956

Semaphore [seal]SERVICE WITH COURTESY JANUARY, 1956 The Magazine of the Piedmont and Northern Railway Co. [image: multiple people attending a banquet] IN THIS ISSUE . . . 1956 Banquet Pictures

Editorial Page

TWO VITAL ISSUES AT STAKE

In Greenville on January 7 and in Charlotte a week later President W. I. Rankin urged employees to inform themselves on important national legislation affecting the railroad industry to be considered by the Congress now in session. He asked that this be done so that we would be in a position to discuss these matters intelligently and to express ourselves to our congressmen.

Specifically, Mr. Rankin referred to the proposed legislation which has grown out of the Weeks' Report and to the proposed highway constuction bills. The first of these, the Weeks recommendation, if enacted would give all forms of transportation more freedom to adjust their rates to meet competition. In brief, it would relax some of the regulatory chains which have bound the common carrier segment of the industry and would give it a chance to compete equally with less regulated carriers. This would be an important step toward the ultimate goal of complete equality among the various forms of transportation. It would be a break for the public, too, because competition would mean lower transportation costs.

The railroad industry is also vitally concerned with highway construction legislation. Railroads are not against good roads, but they do believe that any road construction program should be financed on a pay-as-you bo basis by levying the proper user charges on those who use the roads. Such user charges should be determined on a basis of both weight and distance to offset the proportionately heavier charges now paid by motorists as compared with commercial truckers. At the present time, the average motorist pays five times the amount of taxes per ton of load as paid by a trucker. Any highway legislation which meets these requirements will have the general support of the railroads.

By reading articles and material on these two important subjects, you can follow the progress of this legislation and will be in a better position to express yourselves to your elected representatives. In so doing you will be making a valuable contribution to the welfare of your company and the entire transportation industry.

KEEPING TRACK

P & N PAY CHECKS had a little something extra this month. The "extra" was a copy of the pamphlet "Why Not Let Competition Work?" which explains the recommendations of the Weeks Report. Employees are urged to read this pamphlet as a means of informing themselves on this vital proposed legislation. Two 45-Year SERVICE PINS, the first to bewarded by the railroad, were presented this month to Vice-President N. A. Cocke and C. N. Sherrill of the accounting department. Mr. Cocke and Mr. Sherrill became associated with the railroad during its organizational period in 1910 and 1911. They were accorded special recognition at the N. C. Division banquet on January 14. PROGRESS EDITIONS of newspapers in cities served by the P & N are making their appearances in rapid fire order. These editions are a compilation of progress and growth in the areas concerned and are good salemens for new industry and business. Among the cities scheduling progress editions are Charlotte, Spartanburg, Greenville and Anderson. WHAT'S RIGHT ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA is the subject of what is probably one of the longest letters every written. Bill Sharpe, editor of THE STATE magazine, answered a letter from a North Carolinian who said he was tired of hearing what was wrong with his state and would like to know what was right with it. It took Editor Sharpe 101 pages of text, pictures, and ads to answer the letter. It's well worth reading if you can find a copy of the December 31 issue. THE DEADLINE for submitting 1955 issues of SEMAPHORE for binding is February 1. If they aren't in by that time, they cannot be accepted for binding this year. However, next year you may submit your 1955 issues when the 1956 issues are bound.

Semaphore Volume 12 Number 1 JANUARY, 1956

Published by the Piedmont & Northern Railway Company. Address all communications to Editor, Semaphore, P. O. Box 480, Cbarlotte, N. C. EDITOR THOMAS G. LYNCH Director of Industrial Devolopment and Public Relations

CORRESPONDENTS

Elizabeth N. Watt ......... Anderson Lennie Featherstone ......... Belmont Elsie K. Walker ......... Charlotte Jean Wallace ......... Gastonia Harry T. Campbell ......... Greenville Delia H. Brown ......... Greenville Evelyn Williams ......... Greenville Breazeale ......... Greenwood F. E. Furry ......... Pinoca H. W. Kay ......... Spartanburg

IN THIS ISSUE . . .

Retired But Not Tired ......... 4 New Freedom Drive Warehouse ......... 6 S. C. Banquet Photos ......... 8 N. C. Banquet Photos ......... 10 Good Year Ahead ......... 12

THIS MONTH'S COVER . . .

January is the month of annual employeee banquets on the P & N. This year 575 employees and guest (mostly wives and husbands of employees) gathered for the two banquets. The cover picture shows part of the crowd which turned out for the South Carolina Division banquet at Poinsett Hotel in Greenville. The round tables are a are a traditional feature of the banquets at the Poinsett. When the picture was made those attending were just starting their dinner. Later the tables were moved out for the dance. More pictures taken at two banquets are on pages 8-11.

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Retired but not tired . . . oldtimers meet in Greenville

SIXTEEN oldtimers were on hand for the annual retired employees' dinner held at the Poinsett Hotel in Greenville on Deceber 19. The group gathered at the invitation of General Manager W. L. Hogan. Since the main purpose of the dinner is to provide retired employees an opportunity to get together and renew old acquaintances, there was no formal program. After consuming a hearty meal, the group turned its attention to swaping stories and catching up on the news during the past year.

Those attending included:

Joe A. Skelton, 70, retired conductor, who is living at 329 Jones Avenue in Greenville, Mr. Skelton retired in 1945 after 31 years of service and now spends his time helping Mrs. Skelton keep up their home and garden. P. W. Mchugh, 79, retired engineer, lives at 22 Croft St. in Greenville where

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[arrow pointing to the left of the page] SIXTEEN VETERANS of long services with the P & G attend the annual retured employee's banquet at Greenville on December 19. Seated left to right are: R. D. King, H. F. Long, David Hirst, S. T. Gantt, P. E. Gross, and C. H. Ellis. Standing, left to right are: O. T. White, H. E. Aiken, E. E. Sanders, J. A. Skelton, J. C.C Goodman, H. T. Worley, A. M. Payne, J. C. Gillis, P. W. McHugh, and wayne Clement. [caption spans top of column 1 & 2]

[column 1] he spends his time just staying home. He retired in 1941 after 29 years of service.

Hovey F. Long, 69, retired assistant storekeeper and night watchman, lives at 101 Clevervine Ave., Greenville, and spends his time gardening and fishing He retired in 1952 after 21 years with the railroad.

Samuel T. Gantt, 74, retired master mechanic, lives at 612 Summit Avenue in Charlotte where he supplments his income as a salesman but also finds time for fishing. Mr. Gantt retired in 1936 after 24 years with the P & N.

E. E. Sanders, 71, retired engineer, lives in Greenwood, where he takes a lively interest in the prgoress of the P & N. Mr. Sanders retired in 1952 after 40 years of service.

C. H. Ellis, 72, retired sub-station operator, lives in Easley, S.C. (Route 3) where he spends much of his time working with electricity and repairing appliances. He retired in 1937 after 20 years of service.

David Hirst, 69, retired chieft clerk and cashier, lives at 633 Central Avenue, Charlotte. He spends much of his time fishing, boating, camping, and swimming with his grandchildren, and also does a little traveling. Mr. Hirst retired in 1938 after 26 years of service.

A. M. Payne, 76, retired electrician, lives near Taylors, S. C. (RFD 4). He retired in 1945 after working for the railroad since 1918.

H. T. Worley, 71, retired engineer, lives on Rozzell's Ferry Road, Charlotte,

[column 2]

where he spends most of his time watching television and keeping up with the world. He retired in 1948 after 35 years of service.

J. C. Goodman, 65, retired conductor, lives at 420 Grandin Road, Charlotte, where he spends some of his time helping his wife with her ceramic hobby. He also reads extensively. Mr. Goodman retired in 1955 after 30 years of railroading.

J. C. Gillis, 56, retired agent at Pinoca, lives near Charlotte (Route 8, Box 100) and spends his free time fishing. Mr. Gillis retured in 1945 after 29 years of service.

Ralph D. King, 56, retired conductor, lives at 706 Highland Park, Greenwood. He spends part of his time as a automobile salesmen but manages to get in his usual hunting and fishing. Mr. King retired last year after 30 years of service,

Wayne Clement, who gives his age as over 70, lives on Grace Street in Greenwood. He retired in 1943 after 31 years with the railroad.

P. Emory Gross, 58, lives in Lewis Villiage, Greenville, not that he has retired as commerical agent. Mr. Gross joing the P & N in 1941 and retired in 1946.

O. T. White, 69, retired engineer, lives on White Horse Road in Greenville. He retired in 1943 after 31 years of service.

H. E. Aiken, 50, retired conductor, lives at Shoreswood, Route 3, Spartanburg. He is employeed on a part- time basis by a motor freight line. Mr. Aiken retired in 1952 after 23 year of service.

JANUARY, 1956

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