The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-15

manual signal system employed on European railroads, where low wages make it economical to have hagmen stationed at short distances along the line rather than automatic mechanical devices.
 From their discussion of the methods of handling and protecting baggage and express parcels here and abroad, which vary greatly in different locali| ties, 1t Is the opinion of the Congress after hearing a large number of reports on the methods pursued in America and Europe, and elsewhere, that the arrangements at present adopted by the different countries best meet their va ri1d requirements, and there are no grounds for recommending any partic- ular system"
 Something of the problem that pre- sents itself in every American city where extensive suburban transit Is necessary as we'll as to all railway managers was considered by one sec tion of the Congress, which declared:
 Suburban Transit.
 "To be in the highest degree remun- erative the traffic must be handled rap idly, by simple and inexpensive meth ods, and with the minimum working organ ization necessary for the purpose. All necessary measures should be taken to accelerate the movement Of passen- gers and start the trains promptly. In this way the expenditure of energy re- quired to regain time lost is conserved. and the promptness with which the ser vice is conducted communicates itself to the passengers, who quickly learn to move more rapidly"
 One of the striking differences in railway practice in the United States and abroad came out in the discussion of branch roads, or Tight railways" as the Europeans call them Here they are built by private enterprises and are dependent on the business they can get for their support and profitable operation. In some cases they have been constructed to assist in the de- velopment of territory which was at the time not able to give them paying traffic and so were simply a load for stockholders to carry at first. In Eu- rope. branch lines which carry little traffic frequently demand State aid to support them, and are granted more liberal terms than those afforded main lines, in order that they may exist.
 Light railways merit in the highest degree the attention of public authori- ties" the Congress concludes. Their construction makes 1t possible to en- courage the progress and development of districts who have previously re- mdlneu III the DdCkSTouHu ana II IS dC- cordingly not only the interest but the duty of the Governments to assist them. It Is desirable. therefore. not to ad- here to old types, and old methods of construction. operation and regulation, but to introduce every facility possi- ble, adaptable to local needs and avail able resources. It is also desirable that State governments and local au- thorities should accord to light rail- aif hn form nf ElIh- sidies, relaxation of requirements or other methods of assistance the sup port which they need, both for construc- tion and for operation, so that all parts of the country may be adequately served"
 Cooperation Justified.
 The Congress added that inasmuch as branch roads. when they are really tributary to the main lines. are unques- tionably useful auxiliarfes, the fullest | cooperation and concessions of desir- able facilities, on the part of the maln lines are fully justified.
 The Congress expresses the wish. | the report continues. that the present | tendency of legislation to establish more liberal regulations for lines with small traffic. and light trains may be- come more general, and that the efforts of the arrangements to equip their | light traffic lines with a more economi- cal organization. which promise to give l remarkable results. be continued" The movement toward the electricif- cation of certain American railway lines lends additional interest to the consideration by the delegates of auto motors. The Congress declares that experimentation with this class of ve- hicle should be continued. Tt may be expected" the conclusions say that from now on automobile cars and au- tomotors hauling trailers will consti- | tute a valuable means of transporta- ton. which on some lines will have a great future Owing to the saving in the number of employees required. the probable reduction in cost of malnten- ance, the material reduction in the cost of traction and better utilization Of rolling stock, and the smaller extent be possible materially to reduce the l cost of working lines with little traffic and will in the cases of other lines 1 result in a material improvement in l the working of some classes of service l Their use will certainly effect a change in the syst~~ ~s operation in the case of a great number of lines, and appears to have a real future before it." But as actual operation of this kind ot transportation has just begun. and deh- l nite economic results cannot yet be 1 clearly determined, the Congress is not | prepared to express d preference for any given type of motor, or any spe- l cial system of working.