[The following is a memo sent to officers and employees of the New York Central railroad in 1935.]
New York Central System
F.E. Williamson New York Central Building
President 230 Park Avenue
New York
September 30. 1935
TO ALL NEW YORK CENTRAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYES:
It is not necessary for me to tell any member of the New York Central family that in the last few years our passenger revenues have suffered a great loss. How great this decrease has been is perhaps not well known.
In 1929 our revenue was 122 million dollars. In 1934 the revenue had dropped to 55 million dollars, a loss of almost two-thirds in five years. This shrinkage compelled a drastic reduction in expenses and a loss of employment to many employes. Much of of the loss was due to depressed business conditions.
We believe there are better days ahead and that there is a great opportunity to bring about a substantial increase in passenger revenue and help restore employment or keep the unemployment from becoming greater.
On the first of October we will start a month’s intensive drive among our employes to get more passenger business. I ask every member of the New York Central family to get behind this campaign whole-heartedly. Our purpose in this campaign is to raise our passenger revenues to a decidedly higher level and and by concentrated effort keep them there.
The passenger revenue for the month of October last year was $4,577,000. Unless we can stem the rate of decrease that has taken place thus far this year our October revenue will be only about $4,450,000. I urge you to make use of every occasion and to grasp every opportunity to get more passengers for our railroad.
I suggest that you talk about the New York Central with your friends and those with whom you deal. Tell them how its taxes, purchases and employes help to support hundreds of communities; how its safe, convenient, quick and economical transportation provides unexcelled travel for all. if during this campaign every member of the New York Central family will secure one additional passenger it will increase our October revenue nearly one half million dollars and give us an increase over last year.
Again I earnestly ask you in the interest of yourself, your fellow employes and the New York Central System in which we all take pride, to put your shoulder to the wheel and make this campaign a success.
Yours very truly
F. Williamson
Source: Provided by Richard Palmer