The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-12
-unIIuOHU V6UOP
Nober Thought Is Now Bearing
on Traffic Problems.
Roads Are Incapable OF Coping
With Conditions.
PEOPLE MORE LENIENT
Prairie Farmer Deprecates At
tacks Made on Lines.
Other Items OF Interest to
Railway People.

Sober second thought appears 10
have begun its work on the existing
railroad situation and the remedies
that should be applied 10 relieve the
country from the EN- barrassment from
which ii has been suffering through
the inability OF the roads 10 move the
immense tonnage that has been await
ing transportation in all sections OF I
country.
People are at last settling down 10
the conclusion that relief IS not 10 pc
obtained by harassfng the roads ana
making il still more impossible 10 DO
the work required Of them through
deprivfug them OF the means OF Cd
tanning the money they require 10 sup
ply themselves with the necessary IA
ciIities-
IN its current issue the Prairie Far
mer will publish an article discussing
the whole subject. in which. after
pointing out the need that exists for
additional capital for the roads, it VIII
say:
How are the railways TO get these
enormous sums the expenditure Of
/ which IS essential TO prevent the blight
sG staguatfo from falling upon every
Industry They either must earn them
or procure them by selling their stock
and bonds. They can not get the mon
ey in either of these ways II their
earning power be in any way impair
ed What are the people and the gov
eruments OF the United States doing 70
encourage and help the railways to
make these necessary Improvements
and engagements OF their facilities
Congress and the pOSrO11ce depart
ment recently have cut deeply their
revenues from handling the mails
State legislatures and railway commits
siOners are competing madly IN reduc-
ing their passenger and freight rates
Their taxes are being advanced by
leaps and bounds
THE only remedy which the assaiI-
ants OF the railways seem able to sug-
gast TO relieve the congestion Of traf-
nc is reciprocal demurrage legislation;
and the effect of this must be TO aggra-
vate the situation by causing each rail-
way 70 Try TO keep its cars on its own
tracks 10 open up the way for the
payment of rebates in the form Of
fraudulent demurrage, and. by i'm
posing penalties upon the railways for
failure TO do what they would be only
too glad 10 do II they could. TO deprive
the carriers OF revenues which ought
10 be devoted 70 the purchase of cars
and locomotives and to the construc-
ton OF new main track and sidings.
The most vital problem confronting
industrial America today is that of
providing adequate facilities for NOV
ing the country's traffic; and the peo-
pie and their governments. national
and state. would seem to be in a vast
conspiracy 10 prevent the railways
from solving that problem
1T is high time that the people and
the state and national governments
should awaken to a sense Of the in
sane folly with which they are acting
They can see the first fruits of their
madness in the present condition Of
he market for railway securities
Z The vital need OF industry in this
country : not lower rates of Transport
tation, but more facilities Of Transport
tatiou- The people can travel and
the traffic can move very easily at the
rates which the railways voluntarily
have made. but the tranTc can not be
moved by present facilities; and of
what use are low rates If corn rots on
the ground because there are not
enough cars and tracks enough to
transport il AT any rates.
IF the revenues OF the railways
shall be 50 impaired as 70 render II
impossible for them TO provide ade-
Quate facilities Of transportation ev-
cry other industry in the country VIII
suffer equally with them from the ca
Iamitous conditions which surely viii