The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-03-06
Would Spend Billions
and ReOrganiZe All
Roads.
Friendly ViSitOf Finan-
Cier Shows EnOrmity
Of His Ideas.

The railroads of the United
States viii have to be rebuilt with
much heavier rails, and with a
gauge of feet, instead Of the pres
ent one Of feet s1z inches.
Either locomotives of such sizes
that nobody now can imagine them,
or electric engines, viii have TO be
provided. think in time the latter
plan viii be found more feasible.
The combination freight car of
the present viii have to give way 10
an all-steeI freight car, which will
be , feet wider. feet higher. and
several feet longer than the car now
used 1t viii at the same time be
possible 10 make the car much
lighter, in proportion TO carriage ca
pacity. than the present cars. and
this viii eff Ct a great saving in the
cost of transportation.
Reducing the Grades.
Grades wiz be reduced every
where. Tunnels will have 20 be en-
larged, bridges must be rebuilt 10
make them equal 10 the strain of the
increased loads that viii pass over
them.
"TO do all these things will cost
billions of dOIIars-nObcdy can ten
how many billions"
Such is the stupendous proposal for
4 the reorganization OF the American rail-
road system which r. H Hartman. at
an interview with the Interstate Com
merCe Commission. calmly laid before
that hody. Mr. Hartman simply
amazed the commissioners with the tre-
mendOus ideas ne laid before them. and
with the information about national
4 business conditions on the one hand.
and the minute details Of railroad man
+ agement on the other. which he dis
played
Sought by Hartman.
+ The interview was sought b~ Mr..
Hartman he had indicated 10 an off-
Ger OF the commission ;hat ne would
like 10 call on IL at its Offices and that
if he could meet the commission in a
body ne would call He was ;oId at
mentioned. with some delicacy. that he
would not wish TO call on individual
members Of the committee sirgly. as
1t 10 assure that he would not subject
any Of them 10 the criticism that might
follow such a conference.
When Mr.. Hartman reached the z
street offices OF the commission that
body was in conference in Chairman
Knapp's room He was shown a seat
in the ante-rOOm and waited patiently
for ten minutes. when he was shown
into the office OF the chairman and
shook hands with all the members Of
the commission
Mr.. Hartman took the stand a. once.
; He was used to taking the stand in the
i presence Of the commission; but he did
not talk SIS he did a few days agO in
New York.
VIII Play to Public.
Beginning with his compliments TO the
r commission and with his assurance that
{ his visit was purely social and inspired
. by natural interest in the business of
the organization. Mr- Hartman drifted
+ soon into q general discourse on rail-
t road problems and the work OF Govern
ment regulation.
"Pye made up my mind in future
to give more attention to the inter
P est of the public in these Affairs :
said the ruler of $4,000 miles OF
railroad. at has never been NV
idea TO concern myself much about
the relations OF the public TO the
railroads. but l propose hereafter
TO give the public information; 10
take it into my confidence as 10
matters II Is entitled to know aSout.
, l think / shall give the newspapers
more of the information they want
] about the business OF the roads |
! am connected with. The commits.
4 sion. in my opinion, would be more
; useful ta the community. If Il would
! cooperate with the railroad man.
, ayers, and with the public, in all
! these questions. 1t could be most
useful as a medium TO secure smooth
2 and satisfactory relations among
railroads"
Then Mr.. Hartman turned TO the
things his own roads have been doinG
Continued on Ninth PaEe.)