Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-01-25
ROOSEVELT TO URGE
CONTROL OF ROADS IN
NEAR FUTURE, AGAIN
Strong Recommendation Likely
to Be Sent to Congress
Sooner Than Expected.

Washington, ID. G., Jan. 22.-James
J. Hill says the railroads of United
States need SIS, 900, 0O0, 900 for new roads
and improving h present ones.
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Harlan says the country needs $780,
900, 900 expended In making its internal
waterways capable to relieving the tre-
mendous pressure OF traffic.
Mr.. Hill complains that there Is not
money enough in the country to make
Ii possible TO meet the requirements or
the railroads.
Commissioner Harlan thinks there is,
no difficulty o getting he neces-
sary money to meet transportation ext
gencies.
why" said the commissioner, who
has recently been investigating the
car shortage n other railroad
troubles. I'VE went to Minneapolis TO
study conditions, and were told hat
the railroads couldn't keep up with the
development of business. They told us
of how the railroads used to drive away
the Indians as they advanced their lines
into the wilderness. They were built
far ahead of the demands of business.
Nowadays, they seem to have taken an
other view Of the situation; business
has grown up to them, and they have
apparently adopted the policy of do
ing their best to care for It, but aban-
doned the idea Of keeping ahead of 1t.
With Many ciphers.
THE Northern Pacific, we were told.
has set aside $1,000, 900 to pay for
double tracking, new terminals, equip
ment, everything that the growth Of
business has made necessary. The
Pennsylvania, a single road touching
a limited section of the country, on top
of he immense Investments 1t has
made in expansion In recent years, has
just announced another addition OF
5000, 000. 900 to it's capitalization, I'm, or
der to raise money for still more in,
creases of It's facilities. That isn't a
great mou for a great railroad sys-
tenn to spend; but suppose sue an
amour were devoted to internal water,
way improvements. 1t would mean that
the great Mississippi system of rivers
would be made capable of handling the
excess of business hat Is now crowd
ing the railroads beyond their capacity.
There is almost no limit to the freight
carrying capacity of those great
streams, if 1t were developed by wise
Improvement"
This is a far fetched idea, apparently,
in view OF the fact that none Of the
present troubles could possibly be
charged in any "a to the new rate
law. The rate law didn't shorten the
supply OF cars or congest m
with them. 1t didn't make fewer en-
gines than there were before. 1t didn't
even make more freight for the rail-
roads to handle, says Mr.. Harlan.
Government Regulation.
There Is n feature to President
Hills demand for 5000. 00e,000
however, hat is regarded as hav-
ing bearing on the question of govern
ment regulation of railroads. 1t is be-
ginning to be asked whether the nam
ayers of the railroads, now fairly en-
tered upon a great epoch of better
ment, extension, rebuilding, shall be
allowed to raise the money as they
please, and issue whatever capital,
ization they like. The impression is I'M
authoritative government circles, that
the process Of injecting water into
railroad securities is being pushed
further and faster by certain interests
than is safe or desirable. 1t is Known
that President Roosevelt has had his.
own attention attracted to this con-
dition. and that he considers ii grave
Indeed, there is good authority for
the statement that the president would
be glad to- have some legislation passed
which would vest In some government
authority tho power to prevent issues
of railroad capital except on assurance
that it was needed and that the none
thus raised would be invested in the
property. and in such a manner as to
be useful. That there VIII be recon-
mendatfon of legislation to this end,
sooner than most people imagine, Is
broadly fntimated.