The San Francisco call., 1905-05-05
RAILROAD MEN
IN WASHINGTON
Vice President Fairbanks
Opens Session of Interna-
tional Railway Congress
WELCOMES FOREIGNERS
Representatives of Worlds
Greatest Lines to Discuss
Transportation Matters

WASHINGTON, May 4.-The seventh
sessi--. OF the International Railway
Congress was formally opened here tp-
day by Wee President Charles W.
Fairbanks. who said in part:
The very pleasant duty rests upon me 70
welcome you TO the seventh session of the
International Railway Congress. Your assem-
Tor II brings together men eminent In the
political, economic and transportation AFFAIRS
Of the world. to deliberate upon themes which
have a very direct and considerable bearing
upon the interests OF mankind.
The railway essentially an instrument Of
our modern civilization. There are many men
living who were born prior to the construction
OF the fTst railway. either in England or the
United states IL was created to meet an i'm
perative demand and its growth has been one
OF the most marvellous developments OF re-
cent times.
Not only has the mileage OF the railway rap
idiy and vastly increased, but there has been
4 marked Improvement in the character OF its
construction and in the method OF its opera
ton. Inventive genius, labor and unlimited
capital have been employed continually In de-
vising new means OF increasing its efficiency
and adapting IL 10 the increasing requirements
OF trade and commerce.
Science and art labor and capital, have
wrough. a revolution. The work OF construc-
ton and reconstruction is unending The road
way, terminals and rolling stock, suited TO
the needs Of yesterday, are inadequate for the
necessities OF to-day and still much larger
provision must be made for the requirements
OF tomorrow
The universal urgent and unremltung de-
mand is for increased carrying capacity, at
medium cost of maintenance and operation.
Hand in hand with this goes the demand for
low rates OF transportation
In the rapid evolution OF this great in
str7lment Of civilization il is not unnatural
that abuses should arise. As we survey the
past We can see how much experience and
enlightened Judgment have served to eradi-
cate many or the wrongs which have existed.
Ii is too much 10 expect, where such an agency
touches the social and industrial interests Of
so many people at so many points. that all
OF the inequalities should have been removed.
We may hope that spirit OF Justice and
ampler knowledge may lead 10 the removal OF
the present evils and the prevention OF evils
in the future
The sessions of the international Railway
Congress Of far-reaching moment They
bring into closer fellowship distinguished and
spired by a wholesome common impulse. They
bring together those who are engaged in pro-
noting the arts OF peace and who are desirous
Of advsncing the welfare Of mankind. They
enlarge the circle of international acquaint-
anee and tend to preserve International amity-
They emphasize the fact that our common
gooS is to De promoted by the maintenance
OF a broad fraternal international spirit
While celebrating upon methods 10 promote
the efficiency Of the railway let hope that
you may cultivate purpose to promote the
adjustment through the arbitrament Of reason.
so far as may be done consistently with ma
tional honor. Of those perplexing problems
which sometimes arise to menace the world 5
peace The nation which seeks honorable
settlement OF differences with It's neighbors In
some other manner than by the sword is not
decadent. Il is not wanting in national virility-
It is merely manifesting an advanced degree
OF cfviliza ton. It IS evidencing the fact that
the barbarfc strain has run out of its blood.
The opening ceremony took place IN
the ballroom of the new Willard Ho-
tel and was attended by nearly 500
delegates and as many Of their friends
Three hundred Of the delegates are for
eigners- Every railroad of Importance
in the world is represented. Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks words of welcome and
concentrations were followed by ad-
dresses by Stuyvesant Fish, president
of the American section Of the con-
gress, and by Ernest Girard, temporary
chairman of the permanent commission
of the congress. The five sections
through which the congress is to ac-
complish its work OF discussion were
organized at once and each will meet
at o'clock tomorrow to take up the
duties assigned to it. During the aft
erncon the delegates visited Mount
Vernon and the tomb of Washington
by steamer and in the evening a pri-
vate view of the collection of the Cor
coran Gallery of Art was given.
The discussions Of the sections are
conducted behind closed doors, in or
der that there may be no restraint in
expressions Of opinions by delegates.
The topics to be handled are entirely
scientific and technical. The conclusion
reached by a section litter due discus
sion of a topic is abstracted and pre-
sented to the general congress at meet
fngs TO be held during the ten days
term Of the session. These conclusions
are printed and constitute the work of
the congress. No explanation of any
nature is enacted by the congress and
no resolutions binding railway manage
ments to any line Of policy are con-
sidered.