The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-03-05
RAILROADS
COMPLAINING! !!
Startling and Surprising State
ments by Operating Officials
Of Important Roads---Many
Have Narrowly Avoided Re-
ceiverships.

washington, Marcn l.-Amer1can
railways have made arrangements. to
comply with the provisions Of the
nine-hour law. The operation Of the
law will mean the employment by
railroad companies OF several thou
sand additional operators and the
closing OF large number of small
stations on the principal systems.
Disseminating of railway service at
many points, it is thought, will in
duce at least temporary inconveni-
ence to travelling and shipping public
in order to reduce operation expenses,
which now seems necessary, the op-
Grating officials OF the railways be-
lieving this is the only way that they
possibly can meet the Siuation with
which they are confronted.
During the hearing of applications
for an extension OF the nine hour
law by the interstate commerce CON-
mission some astonishing statements
we're made by the operating officials
of important railways. A good many
lines, owing to the reduction OF rates
and to their inability to command
the cash necessary to meet their pay
rolls, have been forced during the
past four months, almost to the
point OF asking for receivers. In the
opinion of railway officials expressed
at the hearing under oath and in pri-
vate conversation this condition does
not seem TO have been due to the en-
! forcement of regulative lawson to the
| incapscity OF railway management.
most of the railway officials attribute
the difficulty to the unfortunate
banking situation which developed
last September The railways did
not feel the stringency In money un-
| til about the first OF November. In
fact. the month of October was one
of the best IN the history OF the bus
iness OF American railroading.
"Tben, without the slightest warn
ing" II U. Nudge, vice-president
and general manager OF the Rock Is.
land system, expressed 1t, I'VE were
plunged from prosperity to adversely.
A year ago our system could not
handle the traffic offered US. Today
we have 1000 idle cars. Five
months ago we suffered from a con-
gestion OF freight; now we suffer
from a congestion OF empty cars"
What is true of the Rock Island is
true also of scores of other railroads.
One railroad Official ventured the
statement that in the country today
there are 300,oo0 idle freight cars,
and one line which he instanced was
declared TO be hauilng empty cars
backward and forward because 1t had
not yard room or siding to accommo,
date them.
Not an Official Of single railroad
line who appeared before the com
nilsson, however, expressed the opin
ion that the present depression wonlC
lie lasting. In nearly all the testi
mony there was note OF confidence
that the stfingency In the monel
market from which the comfy !
suffering Is not due to fundameDta
causes. They point out that th'
crops last year were good that price
, were excellent: that industrial enter
prises throughout the country wer
; fiourishing. 1t vas mereyl the In
. ability TO Command ready cash an,
the boarding OF money by the panic
stricken individuals which produce
so suddenly the remarkable depres
!. sion from which all have suffered
= They practically uniformly expires
confidence that the return OF pros
perity viii be almost as sudden a