The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-01
RAILROAD NEWS.
The Ton Mile Theory Is De-
clared Wrong i'm Principle.
Commerce Commission Expert
Says 1t Aids Congestion.
THROUGH SCHEDULES.
Should Be Adopted Instead of
Running Freight as Extra.
Other Items Of Interest to
Railway People.

| Washington, Nov. THAT the ton
mile rule, as applied to the making up
| of freight trains. now in use on prac-
tically every railroad in the country,
must be abandoned if the freight con-
gestion of the country is to be relieved,
is the opinion of traffic expert of the
| interstate commerce commission. The
expert, who for obvious reasons asked
| that his name be not USED, referred
particularly to the traffic system of the
Great Northern and other Hill roads,
the first to adopt the ton-mile rule,
! the creation of Hill himself.
Il realize that many will look ask
ance at proposition based on critic
ism of the fundamental theories of Jas.
j. HILL who is accounted one Of the
worlds transportation masters" said
the interstate commerce official. "Nev-
ertheless, I do not hesitate to assert
that he and his imitators must aban-
don their present plan of handling
freight trains, else the congestion now
stagnating so many industries never
will be cured.
LET me state succinctIv the ton-mile
theory, as applied to the making UP of
freight trains: Mr.. Hill complies tables
showing what is the capacity of the en-
gines on given division of his roads,
expressing this capacity in ton-miles,
and the orders are to the operating de-
partment that no engine shall ever
leave the yards until there are cars
enough to load it down to it's full ca
engine remains idle in the yards for
several days, when it could have been
sent out with perhaps half or two
thirds of the freight it is capable of
drawing.
with engines loaded to capacity,
they toll over the grades and probably
average no more than seven or eight
miles an hour; and too, the engines
are strained and worn out much sooner
than they would be under the rule which
I contend would be better railroading.
Furthermore, freight is delayed in
transit, the shipper waits the longer
sold; the one who is to receive the
shipment waits often when he needs
the goods for the trade; the public suf-
fers from shortage In certain lines of
articles it needs and the great issue of
car and engine shortage becomes the
more intense.
II admit that the ton-mile theory in
this application to the operating de-
partment works out finely on paper and
makes an apparently good showing to
the directors and stockholders. But I
do not concede that it is really econom-
ical railroading. 1 believe that it is
be abandoned or modified, if the
freight of the nation is. to. be moved
and the congestion to be relieved
The interstate commerce commission
expert then cited the fact that, where
as once freight trains were sent out
on schedule time, now they have no
schedule, excepting for purely local or
way freights, and all other freight |
trains are run as extras Under the
Hill theory this is necessary. The ex-
pert who is here quoted does not argue |
that freight trains should be operated |
on schedules, as are passenger trains |
but that there must be a modification |
of the application of the theory in the |
manner he indicates.
Reports from the Pacific coast states
to the commission are that the freight |
congestion is serious in the extreme. |
Industries in many places have been
to shut down for want of |
cars, and conditions are little, if any,
improved over those of year ago.
That something must be done to relieve
this situation is conceded on all sides.
That the ton-mile theory, as enforced
on the Great Northern, the Northern
Pacific and the Burlington by Mr.. Hill,
is responsible in large part for the sit
uation, is asserted vehemently by the
interstate commerce commissions ex-
pert. whose views are herein set forth.