The Washington herald., 1909-03-07
FINLEY PRAISES
SOUTHERN ROADS
Continued from Page One.


Continued from Page One.
America, I think we will all agree that
the full possibility OF our trade develop
ment IN that direction cannot be realized
until this service has been established.
Would Improve Rivers.
IN Macon you are materially interested
in the improvement OF the Ocmulges and
Altamaha rivers which form your water
highway 70 the Atlantic Ocean, but your
interest in the improvement OF inland
waterways does not stop there. II eX-
tends 10 every harbor on the Atlantic
and Gulf coasts. and tC the navigabIe
streams by which, traffic can be carried
20 inland markets. You are interested not
only in the railways of this immediate
locality. but IN a large proportion OF the
railway lines in the entire section east
Of the Mississippi! River, and IN lines west
Of that river for your ability TO expand
your trade depends upon your being able
TO reach distant as we'll as nearby mar
lets. If a Macon manufacturer IS ship
ping a carload Of goods to New York
and that car is delayed by a freight con-
gestion in Virginia. or in Pennsylvania
or New Jersey, he is inconvenienced just
as much as If the delay occurred within
the limits OF the city of Macon.
This matter Of adequate rail facilities
is of especial Importance to the people Of
the Southern States. for the reason that.
IN proportion 10 its needs, our section is
not so well supplied with rail facilities as
some other parts OF the country In
fact. I think I may safely say that the
most pressing economic need of the South
to-day is an Improvement in its transpor-
tation facilities. In most Southern local
tiles the present need Is not so much for
the construction OF new lines as for i'm
proving and increasing the carrying ca
pacity of existing lines by the cons.ruc-
ton OF additional tracks. terminal facili-
ties, and, in some cases, the purchase OF
additional equipment
This need OF additional facilities. espe-
cially in the way Of double tracks, is
strikingly shown If we compare the
double track mileage in the South with
that in some other sections Of the coun-
try On June 81, 1906 the latest date for
which complete statistics are available
there were in the entire territory south
Of the Potomac and Ohio rivers and east
Of the Mississippi but LOS miles OF
double-track railway and no third or
fourth tracks In the Northern States
east of Illinois there were l4,04 miles Of
double track, I,6l2 miles Of third track.
and LA miles Of fourth track.
This group of Northern States, with a
smaller area than the Southeaster states,
not only has more than twelve times as
much double track, but has more third
track and more fourth track than the
total d0uble-track mileage Of the entire
Southeast. Substantially all OF the COM
merce OF the South to-day Is carried on
/ single-track railways. and the extent OF
this handicap can be realized when it is
remembered that the economic efficiency
Of q dOuble-track road is many times that
Of single-track line. It is impossible
to exaggerate the benefit that our section
would derive from steady and substan-
tial annual increase IN double-track mile
/ age on the most congested parts OF its
railway system.
Would Increase TrackaEe.
The men intrusted with the manage
ment Of the railways Of the South have
not been unmindful Of the need Of in
/ creased trackage and other improvements.
[ So far as the resources at their command
have permitted. they have supplied them.
At the risk Of firing you with statistics
shall summarize briefly the record of
railway accomplishment in our section in
/ ten years, as told in the statistical re-
ports Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Comparing the net capitalization
/ of the railways in the territory south Of
! the Potomac and Ohio rivers and east OF
the Mississippi on June 80. 1906, with their
net capitalization on June 80. 1886, shows
an increase Of but 1S.9 per cent.
/ This represents the total increase IN net
capitalization, including equipment obi
cations and funded Indebtedness Of all
kinds. In the same period there was an
increase Of 24.7 per cent in railway mile
age. while the trackage Of all kinds. in
| cluding second tracks, sidings, passings.
and terminal tracks. increased 33.9 per
| cent. The number Of locomotives in ser
vice increased 54-3 per cent. the number OF
/ passenger cars increased SIG per cent,
and the number Of freight cars Increased
sos per cent These percentages do not
/ tell the whole story Of increased facilities
! during the ten years. They take no &C
count Of the miles Of track in which light
/ rails were replaced with heavier rails, OF
/ the replacement OF wooden bridges and
/ trestles with steel or concrete structures
or Of the reduction Of grades. elimination
Of curves. and general Improvement OF
the roadbeds- They take no account OF
the extension Of block signal systems. OF
the creation OF new buildings and the
Improvements of old ones, or OF the In
crease in the average capacity Of loco
motives and freight cars. Taking al
these things into consideration, 1 think
this is a creditable record of accomplish
ment with an increase OF less than L
per cent in net capitalization.
i The record OF service performed for
the South in that period has been still