January 1953 page 12

the railroads. The 1952 mid-year meet-
ing convened in Durham last July. On-
line traffic men, being closer to home
base, get together once a month in
Charlotte.

Although traffic department confer-
ences are conducted in a relaxed, in-
formal manner, they are by no stretch
of the imagination "bull sessions," Vice
President and Traffic Manager Lawson
establishes a set agenda of discussion
topics which is followed faithfully from
beginning to end. Statistics to supple-
ment various topics and comparisons
of revenues during recent years are
prepared in advance and distributed
at the conferences. This gives the con-
ferees a complete, documented picture
of business conditions, traffic losses and
gains.

To promote mutual understanding
and cooperation the two all-inclusive
staff conferences are also attended by
supervisory operating officials, ac-
counting officials, and Class A agents.

The advantages of these frequent
conferences are readily apparent. They
provide top traffic officials with a
first-hand picture of conditons in many
different parts of the country. By
studying reports and through personal
discussions they are able to analyze
situations and make suggestions. In
addition, the individual traffic repre-
sentatives are able to discuss problems
of mutual interest with other repre-
sentatives and general office officials. In
this way the two railroads are able to
maintain close liaison and understand-
ing with its scattered offices, to take
early action to correct past mistakes,
and to develop new sources of freight
traffic.

This year's year-end conference, con-
ducted for the first time in the new
conference room of the general offices,
was pronounced a great success. Most
of those in attendance espressed the
belief that 1953 would be a good year
for the two railroads.

January, 1953

[Photograph of 3 men 1 is pointing to a picture of a train]
D & S Men on hand for the meeting were: TFA
Griffin, CA Kerr, and Superintendent McAllister.

[Photograph of six men ]
N.C. Division conferees were: seated, DFA
Vandiver, Agent Vaughan, AGFA Shippey; stand-
ing. TM Duncan, Agent McIntosh, DFA Asbury.

[ Photograph of 5 men ]
S. C. Division traffic representatives were:
seated, AGFA Crenshaw. DFA Watt; standing,
DFA Armstrong, DFA Hawkins, and FTA Smith.