Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-15

1.-THE limit Of service of common car
rier has been reached when 1t has moving
at all times over its system many cars
as be run on it's tracks with safety and
transferred and dispatched from it's termi
nails and junction points without unrea-
sonable delay. Beyond that point in
crease in business cannot be handled by
increasing cars and engines.
Disparity Explains Problems.
1.-THE disparity between the growth of
traffic and the additions to railroad mile
age and the extension of terminals, shown
by new mileage of less than ~ per cent
year since 1904, to take care of traffic in
crease averaging II per cent a year for
ten years past, presents and explains the
real problem. The best judgment of many
conservative railroad men in the country Is
that an immediate addition of not less than
per cent per annum to the railroad track
age of the country for. say five years.
should be made to relieve the situation and
put an end to unreasonable delays in the
transaction of business.
Investigations recently made by public
officials and facts accessible before those
Investigations disclose that the railroads of
the country have been endeavoring to meet
the growing demands upon them. In Or
der to handle this enormous addition of Ito
per cent in business with q per cent more
track they have utilized as never before
the carrying capacity of each mile. Not
only were there 80 per cent more locomo-
tives and 45 per cent more cars in service
in 1905 than in 1898, but each engine and
car did much more work. The passenger
miles travelled per locomotive Increased
from 1,21S, 967 to 2,04s.55s. more than 6S
per cent and the ton miles per freight
locomotive from 4.2oS,221 to $500. 100, or
more than 81 per cent. Trains run faster,
cars are larger. locomotives are more pow
erful and methods of handling the bust
ness have so improved as to increase the
general efficiency.
"In the great centerS the inadequacy of
tor ina1 n FREQ A0x nf
traffic The Great Northern Railway Com
pany has thrty-four switch engines in use
in the Twin Cities, while only twenty-eight
engines are used in hauling freight into
and out Of the same.
Yearly Average 81, 100000.
Suppose that only % per cent additional
track. with necessary terminals and equip
ment making 80 per cent. is to be built
during the next five years. or say. in round
numbers 1900 miles Of track, as the re-
quirement for the country to meet imme-
diate needs.
mo practical man would furnish the ia
clities required. including additional equip
ment and terminal facilities, for less than
SIS 600 mile. The question of terminals
alone is almost prohibitive. Terminals now
in use were acquired when property was
cheap and can be enlarged only by heavy
outlay. In many cities 1t Is not even a
question of cost, since the area necessary to
handle railroad bust ess property Is not to
be had at any price.
1.-The new work. then, would amount to
81, 500 100000 in round numbers, a year
ly average of 81. 100 100000. That is the
sum which should be spent before the COM
merce of the country can be moved prop
erly. 1t is just twice the total amount of
the bonded debt of the United States after
the close of the civil war. 1t is more than
twice the entire currency in circulation In
the country and only little less than twice