Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-01-15
, not to be had at any price.

is not to be had at any price.
1.-THE new work would amount to S.
500, 900 900 in round numbers. with a
yearly average Of 81, 100, 100000.
THAT Is the sum which should be
spent before the commerce OF the
country could be moved properly. 1t is
just twice the total amount of the bond
ed debt Of the United States after the
close of the civil war. 1t is more than
twice the entire currency in circula-
ton in the country and only little
less than twice the deposits in all the
savings banks in the United States put
together.
Running Of Freight Trains.
1.-THE average speed Of a freight train
is from IL to Is miles an hour. The
average distance travelled by each
freight car is about rs miles day.
That is, the entire freight equipment Of
the country is employed to the fair
limit of its capacity. except two hours
out of the. twenty-four. On single
track lines freights must wait on sid
ings while the passenger trains have
the right OF way; cars stand for Gays
or weeks in yards or at transfer points
waiting their turn.
in constant progression. This has
been OF the greatest severity just at the
time when construction IL at the low
est ebb.
1.-THE number Of passenger miles trav-
eled In this country for each mile Of
railroad in 1t has increased 80 per
cent in the past five years. and the
number Of ton miles for each mile OF
track has grown Is per cent. The high
est discretion and the best economy is
to have trackage equipment and other
facilities properly adjusted to the vol
ume Of business and then keep moving
1t in a harmonious and useful way.
Enormous Problems
1.-THE problem and necessity are enor-
nous. At 140 tons to the mile, it
| would require 100000 tons Of steel
rails every year to furnish the 1900
miles Of track required. This is nearly
! two thirds Of the product Of all the
rolling mills in the United States. It
would call for the labor Of 100000 men
in grading, besides track layers, bridge
builders and others. The labor even
for such ordinary extensions and i'm
provements as are now being made IS
not to be had In sufficient quantities on
any terms. And 1t demands. as it has
been said, the investment in permanent
plants Of $1.1O0, 100000 year for five
years to provide the railroads OF the
country with means to handle pro-
perly the business already in sight, not
allowing for future growth. This is the
/ real problem of the United States.
Two remedies must be found. The
prohibitory expenses now attached to
the enlargement of terminals at many
points and the absolute lack Of avail
able space a. any price, may be met by
a decentralization OF traffic. A fifteen
/ foot canal or channel from st. Louis
to New Orleans would go further to
relieve the entire middle west and the
southwest than any other work that
could be undertaken. With such depth
of water, a single powerful tow boat
would carry from 80 to 40 train loads
Terminal trouDies admit Of more gem
eral diffusion OF business, permitting
transfers to take place and forwarding
to be done where land can be secured
In adequate quantities and at more
reasonable prices.
Blames the People.
ITO this the traffic system of the
4 country might be adjusted. The heavy
transfers must be made away from the
larger cities.
| 1T Is not by accident that railroad
! building has declined to it's lowest will
in generation at the very time when
all other forms of activity have oeen
growing most rapidly The investor de-
clines to put his money into enterprises
under the ban of unpopularty and ever
threatened by individuals and political
parties with confiscation or transfer to
the state. This feeling must be re-
moved and greater confidence be mu-
tally established II any considerable
portion Of the vast sum necessary is to
be available for the work.
There must be realization by the
1 country of the embargo on business
and OF the fact that the cause is in
sufficient railroad trackage. 1t will re-
quire the best thought and the best eff
fort of this generation to avert the evil
that now casts it's shadow on farmer
manufacturer and merchant; to arrest
the progress of the paralysis that is
laying its grip on the heart OF COM
merce and to restore the wholesome
circulation. without which there can
not be life and growth in either the
individual or the commonwealth"
/ SCARLET FEVER ON PRAIRIE