The Washington herald., 1906-12-21
The Nation and the Railroads

There appears 20 be no disposition al
either end Of Pennsylvania avenue tC
act with undue haste in the matter OF
car shortage in the Northwest. OF which
the most narrowing complaints have been
made through the press and through off,
cial channels. Il is a situation loudly
calling for remedy. we hear it said, and
with perfect truth; but what remedy
That Is the unsettled question, and until
further light is thrown upon the causes Of
the shortage, we apprehend that affirm
alive governmental action will be found
impracticable.
The one fact which stands out clearly
according % the Interstate Commerce
Commission is that the railroads are I'M
able 10 move the entire volume of traffic
offered. This situation is confined TO no
particular section Of the country. for
the complaints Of shippers are heard far
and wide The commission, in its an
nual report. thus summarizes the exist
ing conditions.
The extraordinary prosperity which eyerywhere
abounds, with the high prices obtainable for all
classes d commodities, have so stimulated produc
ton n Weld a volume Of transportation business
which far exceeds in the aggregate the carrying
capacity Of the railroads In a word. the develop
ment Of private industry has of late been much
more rapid than the increase Of railway equipment
In some cases it is simply lack Of ears in Others
insufficient tracks and motive power in stin Others
wholly inadequate freight yards and terminal facii
tics"
If the sole cause Of the present troubles
Of the shippers is insufficient railway
equipment, It is obvious that no immediate
remedy can be found. for such equipment
cannot be provided in a day Immense
sums are now being expended in rail-
way construction, in providing more com
modiOus terminals, and in additions TO
rolllng-stOCk Mere self-interest would
lead the railroads TO increase their equip
ment If not considerations of public con-
venience- Plenty of evidence exists that
self-interest has so operated, and many
Of the railroads have been making siren
uOus efforts 10 keep pace with the indus
trial boom.
But there is another side TO the car
shortage problem which seems TO reflect
upon railway management. It is assert
ed, and apparently admitted by railway
men, that freight cars are moved less
rapidly than formerly, that thousands Of
them are conhscated by lines owning in
sufficient equipment, and that other thou
sands are tied I'd by consignees who use
them foF storage pUrpOses-that. in a
word, the present equipment Of rolling
stock is not made use Of To its full ca
pacity. Senator HansbrOugh's measure
is intended 10 deal with some Of these de-
fects in railway management, but railway
managers have already taken hold of the
matter and are endeavOTing to arrive at
some method of keeping cars employed
and available at points where needed.
II is important 10 railway managers to
apply the requisite remedy for admitted
deficiencies in the management of their
properties, for IN the present temper Of
the public there is bound to be strong
demand for further national regulation
OF the highways OF commerce unless the
just and reasonable demands Of shippers
for. accommodation can be met. Legis-
lation cannot supply equipment, but it
can supply remedies for some Of the
other evils now complained Of To avoid
government management, the railroads
should look to II that their own methods
Of operation are beyond criticism