The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-28
The PROBLEM
Is TRANSPORTATION
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
winter, besides 5000 mere cars and
twenty locomotives. Another road,
which is making extraordinary efforts
to handle the growing traffic for the
Southern coal and iron regions, has
twenty-five locomotives and 800 cars
under order and is adding constantly
to its trackage. These figures arc
Very far from including all the equip
ment and trackage being built for the
Southern STAKES, but are only specimen
orders picked out as instancing what
all the railroads of that section are
doing
AS to the outlook for handling the
business of the ensuing year, the let
tiers generally express, with some re-
serve. the hope that traffic will be
handled more promptly than during
the past fall and winter, even though
there should again be an Increase in
Its volume. This hope is apparently
based upon the expectation that equip
ment under order viii be delivered on
time, and that shippers can gradually
be persuaded 10 release cars more
promptly than heretofore. Several Off
Gals believe, however, that shippers
are very much TO blame for conditions
against which they are so ready 10
complain. +: !.
Upon the qit!s,tior..as to what is the
chief ditticiitE' confronting transport
tation companies there is considerable
difference Of opinion, indicating that the
roads are by no means n the same posi-
ton in this respect. one president
says it is the hostile attitude of the
public and the consequent effect upon
the raising of Funds. Another replies
much in the sa me vein as follows:
Il think the nain weak point in the
industrial and commercial situation of
No mn try a,iC SC ,ip ton,
of the public to abuse transportation
companies, blaming them alone for
every ones sins and shortcomings; and
I believe thai If the same amount OF
time and energy We're as earnestly de-
voted to cooperation with such COM
panies TO improve the situation, and
the creation of a belief that the officers
and employees of all railroads are not
deficient in honestly. Intelligence and
industry. better condition CONNER
cially, morally and socially would OBJ
tain"
Another president says that the chief
difficulties with which he has TO con-
tend are poor qualfTy of coal at in
creased price, less efficient ~labor at
higher wages, and the everlasting
preparation of matter to present in our
defense before courts and railway COM
missions, which takes up so much of the
time of all officials .hat they cannot
give the attention that they would
otherwise give to the legitimate bus
mess of the company The writer says
he cannot agree with tho opinion OF
those whom the staff correspondent of
this newspaper interviewed, and adds
.'The credit of the railroads has been
destroyed to such an extent that they
cannot raise money TO provide in
creased facilities that are absolutely re-
auired for AN economical and satisfac-
tory service. The labor situation Is
about as bad. il seems 10 me, as 1T car
be everywhere, including the labor or
the farms There is scarcity IN this
respect, which is limiting the progress
and development of THIS section to {
large extent"
The writer says that on conservative
estimate, the cotton mills have not
turned out during the past twelve
months more than eighty five per cent
or their normal production He at
tributes this fact entirely to the short