The Washington times., 1906-12-31
Interstate G ON m cree
Commissioner Talks of
Traffic Trouble.
UNCLE SAM TO SETTLE?
Time May Be at Hand When
Government Control of
Rates Counts.

Has the time been reached when the
Governments control over railroad rates
ought to be used to check the concen-
tratiOn Of industry in a few great
centers, and to restore to the smaller
cities and towns the equality of condi-
tiOns which will assure them a larger
share in industry that may develop in
future?
The tendency 90 development OF
mighty industrial and trading centers is
widely regarded as an incident 10 trans
portatien policies i'm the past. The car
famine, from which the country is now
suffering. is attributed i'm no small meas
ure To this congestion of too much bust
ness in too small an area. That that
condition would be greatly relieved if
industry We're more equitably scattered
over the country is the view suggested
by a member of the Interstate Com
1nrce Commission in the course OF a
most Illuminating discussion of this
subject
Social Problem Involved.
Not merely Industrial and lrauspor-
tation arguments were employed by this
official in support OF his suggestion. but
social problems relating 10 The conges-
lion of huge populations in cities were
mentioned as strengthening the argu-
ment for mere general and equal diff
fusion of industry
The tendency To- concentration of pop
vlation. trade. and industry in the great
clues-made great, in part az least. by
reason of transportation fayors-was
frankly decricd. The speaker expressed
the opinion that better morals. better
commercial conditions. greater equity of
opportunity. would all be promoted by a
policy chat woulc tend 10 develop "a
great uuaber of Industrial towns in
stead oi small number OF tremendous
hives OF industry in few cities.
iA- tnmmlSS-uHrr gave an Illustration.
"A number OF years ago he said. "the
southern railroads adopted the policy
of building up trade ceuteIs Rates
were made with this purpose frankly in
view The rate from Chicago, for in
stance, 10 Atlanta would he less than
the rate from Chicago 10 a town 100
miles Durrht the rate from Chicago 10
that town north OF Atlanta would be
sgnal 10 the rate 70 Atlanta plus the
local rate back 10 the minor town,
supreme courts y. K,
The commission held that this was
wrong. but the supreme Court sustained
the practice. and following that ruling
the policy of developing trade ccuters'
went forward. As "a result industry in
the south is much more concentrated
than IN the North, although tendencies
toward concentration i'm the big cities
have been also encouraged in the North
NOW. the first result of this system
is noted in the fact that the car famine
section of The country. The ceutralizinc
or traffic in these favored centcrs has
caused IL 10 oUtgrow facilities for
handling It. Recently tho commission
has been notified Of embargoes ON
freight from certain Western territories
destined 10 pass through Atlanta Sa-
NaHhah. ana charlotte. n g. That
means that The CGUEest ion NI freight al
those points had become So grear that
roads Gid not dare take tnp chance of
getting any NOR" consiFnmeEts through
those towns. Like conditions psrhaps
MOI So aggravated are reported from
many Southern points
Take Chicago aud IitJsbUrg ccutcrs
of the greatest Industrial districts prob
ably on the continent Il is testified
that seven 20 ten days is required for q
car OF freight to get through the city
OF chicago because OF the tremendous
pressure or traffic upon the limited ca
nacity of Jae terminals there. Other biz
cities show conditions hardly less s,-
iious. As result of freight cars thus
being tied up aud standing stn. dav
aItei day, ON Jle terminals of big cities
th'lt Us ear famine. If this coDccu-
LatIoH continues conditions cannot but
grow worse with IT,
IL is not practical 10 talk about
creating htsger terminals 1J these cities.
D,-,aUs" tt'f~ Is uu room FOR them
trlCeS OF realty are rracticalIy urn-
ulhliiNe. To Pay such prices would sa
lH'r1enSrly increase The Investment ia
E"llfn6dS ihat TIC rates OF an trlfic
would have to bs increased i'm order
10 max" railroads profitable. That in
crease would De tax on the industry
or the whole country To what extent
such increase would he necessit3tel
may be Judged from q study of the
huge expenditure recently made nv
s. stems Tor new or extended terminals
IN New York. PittsburE. washington
and other cities.