The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-07
.BETTER. FACILITIES
ARE. OF URGENT !: [ NEED e.
3 Il.
lnadcquacy ofTransportation Fa-
cilitics Declared by Commission
Little Less Than Alarming.
ACCEPT LAW IN GOOD FAITH
Changes for tile Benefit Of Ship
ACCEPT LAW IN GOOD FAITH
Changes for tile Benefit Of Ship
pcrs Already Noticeable, and
the Outlook Hopeful.

s3 liz N/ltllOOht ellOpOlttl.
WARRINGTON, y. c., january c.
One OF the most striking sentences In
the twenty-iirst annual report OF tile
ssransmitted to Congress- to-day, Is ,his:
y may conservatieely be stated
that the inndequncy or trAnspor
tation facilities is little less than
alarming: that its continuation
tie future productivity Of the land.
and that the solution OF the diff
cult financial aud physical pro-
blema involved liz worthy the most
earnest earn thought and effort Of all
n,ent Of our country and the larg-
est opportunity for its people.
:. ANOTHER very Interesting and per-
maps an even more important state
tile effect that practically all Of the
railroads have accepted the new rate
Inv in good faith. On this point the
commission says:
by railway managers almost
without exception sfie amended
law has been accepted In good faith
and they exhibit for the most part
a sincere and earnest disposition to
conform their methods to its re-
quiremcnts.
Good Progress. Made.
The commission says 1t was not ex.
pected that reforms could be brouSnt
about without difficulty or delay, hut
I. is nnGuesti9nably the fact . that hat sFea r
fher Improvement is clearly assured.
10 a gratifying extent there has been
REIMBURSEMENT OF rates and correction of
abuses by the carriers themselves:
another which operated to individual
advantage have been voluntarily
changed. and 1t is not too much to say
that there liz now freedom from for
hidden determinations which Is actual
and general TO n degree never before
approached. AS this process goes on.
a. special privileges disappear and Ia
yoritism ceases to be even suspected.
tits OF the law, will become more and
more apparent"
The amended act has been In force
a little more than sixteen months. and
the commission points out that a con-
siderable part Of Its time during the
past year has been occupied In giving
administrative construction to various
provisions of the law for the guidance
!. An Incidental respect in which equal.
lily OF treatment has been promoted Is
IN such matters as switching, terminal
dcmurragc, reconsignment, elevation
and other charges making up the ag-
sregatc cost of transportation.
Marked improvements.
IT Is this general marked improve.
ment IN transportation conditions tina,
the commission observes with specia
qualification. The amended Law witt
cognition of its fundamental Justice
the qnickened sense OF public oblipa.
lion on the part Of railway managers
the clearer perception by shippers Of
tage is morally as we'll as legally in.
defensible. and the augmented infiu
ence OF the commission resulting from
us increased authority have all com
blned to materially diminish offensiv,
practices Of every sort and to signal,
promote the purposes for which TIL.
law was enacted"
Since the new rate law became ef
sective on August IS, 1906. the com.
OF corrective orders In many cases
Up TO November 4. 1907. the commits
Sion rendered decisions In los contest
ed cases under the act. In forty-fivt
Of these cases orders were made
ty.tive the complaints were dismissed
and In the remaining fifteen no order,
were made.
In every instance. except one. thu
tional case the Delaware, Lackawann,
and Western Railroad carried the or
der into the United States courts. bu
complying with the order Of the com
mission. Two important subjects ar,
discussed at length In the report. thu
one being. the matter Of advance II
rates. W hich the commission is who'll,
without power to prevent" and tn,
other. the dreadful destruction Of lif,
In railway accidents. which are nov
the subject OF official investigation un
der Federal authority.
Concerning the advance In rates
which rests entirely with the railway
under the law. the commission sug
gests that when such advance Is at
tackled IN formal complaint. the com
mission be given authority by legisla
ton to suspend the operation of tn
advanced rate until the matter shall
have been heardyand determined finally
Congestion and Shortage.
The commission says the importan
subjects OF congested traffic and ca
shortage may be said to be due t,
the fact that the facilities Of the car
riers have not kept FACE with the con- ON
eminent railroad president has esti
mated that during the period from 1s9
TO 1908 the traffic offered for carriag
An the United States increased 10 pc
the Observation-Disclosures for handling thl
traffic increased only 20 per cent. I
may be conseryatively stated that tn
fnadequacy of transportation facilitie
IS little less than alarming; that it
continuation may place an arbitrar
limit upon the future productivity o
the land, and that the solution ofSsth
difficult financial and physical pro
4blems involved is worthy the mos
i Aelieve In the full development OF on
Tor Its, people"
Coast line Consolidation.
So The report is a printed documen