The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-19
RETRENCHNENT BY P. R. R.
YORK TO RELIEVE TREIGHT
CONGESTION GIVEN UP.

toward completion, but much more il hardly
begun
Whether this retrenchment policy will
10 10 far as to halt the work temporarily
on the Manhattan tunnels Ia yet to be seen.
Fourth vioe-PreAident Rea, who has this
work in charge. when questioned yester-
day, regarding this matter, said:
II we we're going to stop that work We
would have notified the contractors who
have been asked to submit bids. Those
bids are to be submitted on Dec. H.
But. will not the work be postponed.'
Mr.. Rea was asked.
you will have to wait and see,' was the
reply.
Mr. Res would not mako any further
.stement Regarding tho tunnels, although
he said that the new orders would not
effect che elevation Of the traciu in WASH
inston or tho construction Of tho Washing
ton terminal.
William A. Patton, assistant to President
cassatt, was not quite 50 ambiguous, how
ever. Il don't believe, he said that the
work on tho tunnels will be affected.
have heard OF no such intention at present"
While no labor troubles in Pennsylvania
are responsible for the abandonment Of
work. still the labor strife throughout the
country is blamed in a great measure for
the retrenchment policy. inasmuoh as
the closing Of many manufacturing plants,
on account Of strikes. has resulted in great
falling OF Of freight traffic. The Penn
sylvsnia. for instance, from the United
States Steel Corporation alone. has lost
thousands Of tons Of freight on account of
labor troubles. This loss is only one in
many. The steel tonnage lost last year
Is said to represent $500 900 900 in products
Nor will the retrenchment cease at the
abandonment Of impro vements, result
ing in itself In loss of employment to
thousands Of men. A general cut
down Of all the Pennsylvania forces
Is under contemplation. There has been
already a slight thinning Of the ranks
at the Altoona shops, and 1t is believed
that this is but the beginning. The train
men will be reduced in numbers also. and
some trains will be withdrawn.
The freight traffic has fallen off to such
an extent that where last season there were
many PiuSCS nIoh8 VIC AA0 III q bldlS VI
chronic congestion. the way is now readily
kept clear. The improvements under way
we're meant to forestall possibility Of con-
gestion this season, but now that business
shows that the work for the time being is
not necessary orders for it's abandonment
have been issued.
Just how sweeping lis the stoppage Of the
work will not be learned for several days,
although it was declared to-day that all
branches of the great system will be az
fected by the order ito drop all construc-
ton that cannot be finished this year.
There are, however, some notable ex-
ceptions to the order, These include the
West Philadelphia freight road and the
Of tracks at Chester, Wilmington,
Newark and New Brunswick. These under
takings are in course Of construction and
work on them, it is declared. will be rushed
Among the pieces Of new work which
will be affected are the new line
from Marysville, above Harrisburg to
Atglen. the construction of third and fourth
tracks at various places on the middle and
Pittsburg divisions, and the new line which
brings into use the Portage road over the
mountains between Cresson and Hunting
don. and the enlargement Of the Fairview
Yards at Harrisburg
All this was in the work undertaken to
relieve freight congestion of a year ago.
A loan Of 335 900 900 was negotiated at the
time to carry on the work. The freight
congestion no longer exists and apparently
financial and commercial horizon that
make IL necessary to trim sail.
How the outside troubles between labor
and capital have had their effect on the
situation was thus explained to-day by
N official Of the road:
You will note in recent report OF the
United States Steel Corporation that more
than $500 900 900 of steel construction work
is held up on account Of the troubles with
The building trades. Capital has been
fearful about embalking on the erection Of
high buildings because it did not know
whether they would not be so tied UP with
series Of strikes az TO make completion
dubious. Hence the falling of in orders
10 the steel company and the loss OF its
share Of Just that much tonnage to the
railroad
trenchment is to he adopted
III does. 1t is the policy of the Penn
svlvania Railroad never to spend a dollar
Unless il sees where the return is going to
come in, The work involved in this order
has been viewed in the light OF that hard
business proposition. The company could
not see where those big expenditures were
going to bring in. any proper return In
reVenne at this time Hence they were
s'opped.'
lis this to be taken to mean that the
hinsnciers in touch with the railroad be-
i'eve that period Of business depression
is at hand7'
NO, but they believe they see a tenn
porary falling Of from the rush times that
oongested traffic and they are taking no
chances. But, in the main they know
things will come ont all right. The crops
are good, the farmers are prosperous and
conditions will right themselves
Plans for the New York tunnel were bein
considered as late as Saturday afternoon
ny the engineering department and It
vas denied by the officials that there Is
any intention to sidetrack this work.
is there not possibility that the tunnel
will be halted before the contracts are lett'
vas asked Of an official in a position to
know
All that | can say is that no orders TO
iet up have been given yet, and we are
setung the plans in shape as rapidly az
The work that goes over will not be taken
up again. except az new work. II will 60
on with the schedule for next year and
~lll be considered just as II plans had never
been made.
The various superintendents are now
sending In their estimates and requests
Ior improvements for next year, and there
are now on the desk OF j, T. Richards.
thief Engineer Of Maintenance Of Way,
worth Of improvements for 1904. The
plans for tha work mat abandoned will 90