The Street Railway Journal, and John A
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; Street Railway Journal Vol. XVI. NEW YORK AND CHICAGO, NOVEMBER 3, 1900. No. 44. Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Convention OF THE AMERICAN STREET RAILWAY ASSOCIATION HEED AT Kansas City, Mo., October 16-19, 1900 The nineteenth annual meeting of the American Street ciation, I desire to thank you for your eloquent words of Railway Association was held at Convention Hall, Kansas welcome spoken to us, and also to give you my personal City, Mo., Oct. 16-19, 1900. thanks. The first business of this meeting is the calling TUESDAY'S SESSION of the roll. If it is the pleasure of the meeting, instead of taking time to call the roll, the official registration of President John M. Roach, of Chicago, 111., called the the secretary will be deemed the calling of the roll. That meeting to order at 11 115 a. m. has been the custom in the past, and will be considered as The President.—We have a distinguished citizen of applying at this time, if there is no objection. The next this city with us this morning and he will extend a wel- business before the meeting is the address of the president. come to you. I take great pleasure in introducing to you President Roach then read the following address: His Honor, James A. Reed, Mayor of Kansas City. (Ap- plause.) PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Mayor Read then delivered an address, and said It gives me great pleasure to meet with you in this magnificent in part: "Kansas City, as much as any other Western city. I have every assurance that nothing will be left city in the world, welcomes to her midst the rep- undone to make our visit most pleasant and profitable. There is resentative business men of all other cities. a breadth of character and freedom of personality in this young metropolis of the plains which peculiarly appeals to the business We believe out here in the West that it takes capital and man who has large interests entrusted to his care, and I believe brains and courage to build cities. We know out here in the members of this association will show their appreciation of the the West that if capital comes to us it must come because many pleasant things provided for their entertainment while in it expects a fair remuneration. And I want to call your this community. When this nineteenth annual convention of the attention, gentlemen, to the fact that you are in Missouri American Street Railway Association shall have finished its labors I am sure I may safely say to Mayor Reed that none of you will and, notwithstanding the fact that nearly all of the States have regretted the acceptance of the hospitality of the people of that surround us, hard financial when conditions existed, Kansas City, so graciously extended by him. placed upon their statute books laws aimed at the de- I see before me representative men from all the- leading cities of struction of wealth of financial institutions, there never has this country. To your hands are entrusted street railway invest- aggregating hundreds of millions of dollars, and the welfare been a syllable, line or sentence of what we commonly ments of over a million persons. From the single track, one-horse car denominate crank legislation placed upon the statute of forty years ago the business in which you are engaged has of books Missouri. (Applause.) grown to a magnificence where nearly all fields of human endeavor "We believe here in this State that capital should receive are called upon to perfect its equipment or aid in its management. ridicule and financial instability, and in its fair share of remuneration; but we believe, at the same It has outgrown the rapid whirl of events has built cities, enriched its promoters and made time, of course, that these great institutions which you possible a freer, healthier and happier life for its patrons. Each represent owe some duties to the citizens of cities, the and day the street car is entering more and more into the business life that it is their business and duty to serve the citizens, and and pleasures of the community, and each day its benefits are be- serve them well. While we believe in that, we, at the same coming more apparent to the general public. The street railways of America now represent the enormous in- time, realize the fact that great financial institutions must be vestment in bonds and stocks of $1,800,000,000, upon which in- secure in their profits, and that all the people have the vestors are receiving annually over $70,000,000 in dividends and in- right to ask of them is a policy of 'Live and let live,' of terest. Salaries and wages amounting to $250,000,000 a year are serving the people and in turn of being benefited by the distributed among the three hundred thousand employees neces- people. sary to equip, operate and manage this great industry, repair its 20,000 miles of track, handle its 60,000 cars, and meet the ever "We believe in inviting the capital of the East here for pressing demands for improvement. Directly and indirectly over the purpose of in investing great public buildings. I do 1,200,000 persons depend upon the traction interests of America not believe a single man lives who came to Kansas City for their livelihood. and used ordinarily good business judgment in the matter An industry of such proportions penetrates and more or less affects all other enterprises in the country which sustains it. Nine- of his investment in great public buildings, but to-day is tenths of the business men and women of the United States look receiving splendid dividends upon that investment." to the management of street railway companies to furnish them President Roach.—Mr. Mayor, on behalf of the asso- with swift, comfortable and safe transportation to and from busi- STREET RAILWAY JOURNAL. [Vol. XVI. No. 44. ness. Still a greater per cent of pleasure seekers demand and re- upon you the advisability of entering into full discussions and ceive from the same management to and from theater, casino, analysis of these subjects, so that a clear understanding of all park and suburb transportation of such elegance of equipment and (juestions presented may be carried home with you. I also urge efficiency in service as to satisfy the most exacting. It has re- the association to show appreciation for our friends, the supply quired heroism and patience on the part of street railway men, with men, who have produced for this annual meeting their splendid so little friction, to meet the demands of a critical patronage in so exhibit. excellent a manner as is being accomplished by them at the pres- Allow me to request your hearty support in the work of the ent time. Accountants' Association, which meets in annual convention here On all sides we hear the cry of improvement, and in every direc- at this time. Its work is of great importance, and is worthy of tion we hear the sound of the busy car shop as it responds to the your most serious consideration. demand for more modern equipment. The public is becoming To the secretary and members of the executive committee our more exacting, and there is need for the most perfect knowledge thanks are due for the satisfactory manner in which they have as- and the widest experience to successfully cope with the ever sisted in conducting the affairs of this association. Personally changing situations which confront the street railway manager. their efforts have been highly appreciated. Street railway companies have frequently, at great cost, increased The honor of having acted as your president for the last year has their miles of tracks, and added to an expensive equipment, pri- been most gratifying to me, and shall ever remain one of the marily for the sole purpose of accommodating the public, by pene- pleasant recollections of my life as a street railway man. For my trating into outlying districts, unwarranted by additional business successor I bespeak the same courtesy and cordial co-operation to be acquired in such territory. This policy has proved wise in which it has been my good fortune to enjoy. Gentlemen, I thank nearly every instance. It requires considerable pluck on the part you. of a company to back a temporary loss in order to please its patrons. Those companies which have pursued such a course The President.—The next business in order is the have generally been rewarded by more liberality on the part of report of the executive committee. municipalities, more good nature and praise from patrons, and an Secretary Penington read the report of the executive early increase in the new districts acquired, which soon brought committee. It consisted of the minutes of the meetings those lines to a paying basis. of In thus catering to the wishes of the public the street railway in- the committee on Feb. 5-8 and Oct. 15, and related dustry of the United States has been brought to a high standard of principally to the making of the necessary arrangement excellence, and has kept safely in advance of traffic. The aggre- for the use of the hall, rules for exhibitors, etc. Upon gate of miles of track has grown from a few hundred miles of motion the report was adopted as read. single track, confined mainly to business centers, to many thou- The President.- will hear the report of the sands of miles of thoroughly equipped double tracks, which have —We now brought the country districts within quick and active touch with secretary and treasurer.