The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-01-17
OUR RAILROAD NEEDS
]. J. Hill Says Immense Prosperity
Has Swamped Them.
5000, 100000 FOR NEW TRACKS

President Of Great Northern Declares
That $4,000 Niles Additional Is
Required TO Move the Commerce Of
the Country.
st. Paul, Mimi. Jan. l5.-President
J. J. Hill. of the Great Northern Rail-
road, sent letter to Governor john
son, in which he gives his Views on
the various phases OF the railroad sit
uation in the United States. He gives
the reason for existing conditions, and
points out a remedy. The letter says,
in part
THE business of the United States
Is today so cOngested that from every
portion OF the country arises clamor
for relief. The railroads everywhere
are taxed beyond their power. The
people OF the United States. therefore,
are face to face with the greatest bust
ness problem that has ever threatened
the nation During recent years the
volume OF business has increased, and
is increasing. with extraordinary "a
pidity. while the necessary additional
trackage and terminals have not been
equal to the demands upon them. The
resulting situation is a freight block
AIDE OF enormous proportions especial
" at all terminal points. How to rem
edy this Is a problem. financial. me-
chanical aud physical No time should
be lost in applying such measures Of
remedy as may be possible. and the
first step toward this is to reach
proper understanding OF actual exist
ing conditions. The following figures,
compiled from the official reports OF
the interstate commerce commission
and covering the growth OF the rail-
road business for the last 10 years,
exhibit the significant facts:
Total single-track mileage. 1895.
$50. C67: 1905 PISTOL; increase. 81 per
cent.
Locomotives. 1895. 36699; 1905.
4S.357. increase. As per cent
Passenger cars 1895 33ll2; 1905,
4O.7l3: increase. % per cent.
Freight cars. 1895. l.l9Gll9; 1905,
1871 400. increase, IS per cent
Passenger mileage, 1895 l2,lS8 446,-
271: 1905. 23.SOO, l49. 1876; increase. 95
per cent
Freight on mileage. 1895, S5227.-
1881. 1905 1s6.463. lO9,5lO; increase,
lls per cent
These figures show the cause OF
delay in the national traffic movement
which threatens to bring industry 10
standstll Within the last 10 years
the volume OF railroad business in
this country has increased over 40
per cent Meanwhile the railroads have
endeavored 10 meet It. Equipment Is
being increased as rapidly as capital
and labor can do H. There are and
will be cars enough to carry the coun-
try traffic II the cars can be moved,
but engines and cars must have tracks
upon which they may run.
investigations recently made by
public officials and facts accessible be-
fore those investigations disclose that
the railroads Of the country have been
endeavoring to meet the growing de-
mand upon them. In order to handle
this enormous addition of 40 per cent.
in business. with only 81 per cent.
more tracks. they have utilized as new
or before the carrying capacity OF each
n. Tre g,1N~ ~
cent. more locomotives and 4j per
cent. more cars in service In 1905 than
in 1895. but each engine and car did
much more work.
Suppose that only % per cent. adj
ditional track. with necessary termi-
nails and equipment. making 80 per
cent. Is to be built during the next
five years. or. say. in round numbers
$4,000 miles Of track as the require
ment for the country to meet imme-
date needs.
mo practical man would furnish the
facilities required. including additional
equipment and terminal facilities, for
less than $4,000 a mile.
"The new work. then. would amount
to $500 600 600 in round numbers, or
a yearly average OF sl.lOO, 200, 900 That
fore the commerce OF the country can
be moved properly. It is just twice
the total amount OF the bonded debt
OF the United States after the close OF
the civil war.
Almost all the complaints made to-
day, either by shippers or by operating
railroad men. OF obstacles and dangers
in transportation service are due to de-
cessity are enormous. At l40 tons to
the mile. II would require 100000
tons OF steel rails every year to fur
nish the 1900 miles of track required.
This is nearly two-thirds OF the pro-
duct OF all the rolling mills in the
United States. Ii would call for the
labor OF 200 600 men in grading. be-
sides track layers. bridge builders and
others. And it demands, as has been
seen. the investment in permanent rail-
road plant OF 81. 100, 100000 a year for
five years to provide the railroads OF
the country with means to handle
properly the business already in sight,
not allowing 70, future growth.
This is the real railroad problem
Of the United States. and It is one
which people have been singularly slow
10 perceive and reluctant to realize"