Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-24
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THEY DISCOVERED AN EMPIRE.

In speaking of the recent investiga-
ton by the Interstate commerce COM
mission of the car shortage in the
Northwest, Commissioner Harlan said:
ESQ vast, diverse and multitudinous
have been the issues raised in this
investigation and so widespreading
and comprehensive the information
gathered, that it is difficult in a word
to say just what impression I have
received. To my mind, however, the
one thing that has appealed most and
still stands as predominant thought is
the wonderful power and Importance
OF this country north and west of
Minneapolis considered commercially
with reference to the United States
as whole.
This is the country, it seems to
me, that is going to do things from
now on. The investigation has pre-
scented panoramic view of its re-
sources, It's people, its wealth and
possibilities, that has made a deem i'm
preston upon my mind I shall carry
away convicticn that this part of the
country must be looked to for great
things in the future.
The investigation on the whole
has been beyond all expectations in
developing facts of Importance. It
would have been unfortunate, indeed,
mad we not come here when we did,
IN view not only of the pressing neces-
slty for an inquiry, but also in view of
the material gathered that must be
of great value to the commission and
the country as well, relative to con-
ditions in transportation, and causes
and effects of anything that interferes
with normal traffic conditions"
1t was Senator Hansbrough who
first brought to the attention of the
interstate commerce commission in a
formal way the conditions in the
Northwest caused by the shortage of
freight cars.
when the car shortage is over" he
said, st will be found that one of the
chief causes of the trouble is that the
people responsible for the operations
of the railroads of the country. from
presidents to switchmen. are simply
oVerwcrked. This is evidenced by
the fact that in the Northwest all the
available side trackage is blocked
with rolling stock, where trainmen
have been obliged to shunt it off in
order that tie main lines might be
kept open for such traffic as the rail
roads are able to handle. Railway
managers find it extremely difficult to
secure the additional help that is
necessary for their increased bust
ness. Those already employed on the
roads have reached the condition
through overwork where there no
longer exists the ambition and incen-
tive that should exist. The nervous
tension has almost reached the limit
This condition of affairs is not alone
peculiar to the operation of railroads.
1t exists in almost every avenue Of
labor. We find it in Washington. in
the executive departments, in and
about the senate, and in and about
the house. We find it in a marked
degree at the White House.
The whole country is in a state of
more or less congestion, in the in
diyidual case as in the organized or
corporate case,". said Chairman
Knapp. There is condition of in
efficiency, resulting from demands
which exceed present capacity. A
railroad performs excellent service up
to about the limit of its capacity, but
If required to furnish % per cent
more service than it is prepared for,
its whole work is carried, on at a dis.
advantage, with increased expenses
per unit and with more or less CON.
fusion and decentralization. Similarly,
the individual who is trained and
fitted for a given output of work will
perform his accustomed task with en-.
tire satisfaction. But IL continuously
pressed with d considerable excess
beyond what he is habitually re-
4 qsiired to meet, he, like the railorad,
h gets into q state OF diminished energy
and diseoura cement and 50 does his
d work per unit at greater friction and
with less satisfaction than under
normal eireliaas tances ..s.
The average employees who sees
Title prospect Of advancement finds
4 Az salfiieient incentive to determined
35efrort but Yields to- the temp ation to
4 do ns, more than enough ID hold his