The Tupelo journal., 1907-02-15

ing S6, 744, 769, making a total OF
work done and contracted for tc
handle the traffic $96, ,482, 945.
It has increased it's rolling stock
as follows: Locomotives, from
623 to (received and contracted
for) l, 544; freight train cars from
1921 to (received and contract
ed for) 58.491; passenger train
cars from 487 to (received and
contracted for) 1908. This does
not indicate fully the increase
made to its equipment by the
Company. because the increased
power Of the locomotives, and
the increased tonnage capacity
of the cars, have added much
more to the equipment capacity
of the Company tnan the num-
Der of added units would repre-
sent. For example, the average
capacity of the freight cars has
increased %. 80 per cent. A fair
consideration of these figures will
demonstrate the fact that the
management of this Company
has not been unmindful of it's OBJ
legation to increase it's facilities
in anticipation of the increase in
traffic.
1t has been, and still is, ham,
pered, however, by two condi-
tions: One is the large amount
of fresh capital required; and,
the other, the difficulty of secur-
ing adequate and efficient labor,
of promptly getting its construc-
ton work done, and of obtaining
the rolling stock, rail and other
material essential to improved
facilities.
Delay incident to obtaining
rolling stock will be illustrated
by the following: On Nov. 1st;
1905, contract was made for nine
ty-eight locomotives and one
thousand eight hundred and six
freight cars to be delivered in
February and March, 1906. There
are still undelivered one hundred
and seventy-seven freight cars.
On Feb. l, 1906, contract was
made for one hundred locomo-
tives and ten thousand freight
cars to be delivered on or. before
October, 1906. Still undelivered
locomotives and two
thousand two hundred and eigh-
teen freight cars.
The disappointing delay in con-
str1ction work will be illustrated
by the following: The double
track work on the main line be-
tween Pomona and Spencer, N.
c., was all let during the year
1905, and the last. of it should
have been completed by Nov. 80,
1906. Part or this work is ten
months late and the rest Of it
will be approximately five months
late. This delay is due to the
of the contractors in
getting labor and material.
The contracts for the double
track work between Knoxville
and Morristown, Tenn, were let
in September. 1905, and April,
1906. That part of the work
which should have been COM
pleted to date is Approximately y
ten months late. This delay IS
due to the inability of the con-
tractors to get labor promptly.
The double track work between
Peyton and Austell, Ga, the con-
tract for which was let in April,
1905; and which should have been
completed in February, 1906, will
be more than IA months late in
completion. This delay is due to
scarcity of labor and material.
The prosecution of this double
track work has necessarily caus-
ed some of the delay to traffic o.
which the public complains and
necessarily results to the Com
pany in increased cost of opera
ton.
The fact that the Company, in
it's effort to improve its facilities
to handle the public business,
has not been deferred from un-
dertaking this work at a time
when the cost Of materials and
labor is on such an unusually
high plain, should, | think, be
accepted by the public as an
earnest of the Company,s desire
and purpose to put itself in a po-
sition to perform acceptably its
public duties,
One Of the greatest needs of
the South is that its railroads
should have additional track ca
pacity. No matter how many
locomotives or cars may be avail
able, it is manifest that the mum
Der which can be moved is linn
tied by the track copaciey. The
work Of providing the necessary
additional track will require a
vast input of capital. How it is
to be provided is everywhere a
matter of grave concern to rail
road managers. 1t cannot be OBJ
tanned from the current opera
tions Of the properties 1t must