The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-03-03


bf the Bristish government to the In
ernational Railway Congress at Wash
ngton, in 1905. and of the Berne Con-
yress last summer. and who makes a
bersonal examination every two or
&hree years of the railway and CONNER
,ial conditions in the United States for
s be benefit of the banking interests Of
XGngland and the continent in an inter
lew upon the present railway condi-
j ions In the Uited States, says, in the
New York Evening Sun:
Il have been somewhat surprised to
lee the space that has been given in
our newspapers TO the criticisms Of
he efficiency of your railways 1t has
lways been my opinion that in actual
economy of operation the railways Of
he United States are first in the world.
In the number OF tons per car, cars
Der train; in the fullest utilization of
locomotives; In the obtaining of the
Greatest measure of result for each
limit of expenditure, they are not
4 qualled by the railways of any other
lation. When the Greek commanders
*f.or the battle Of Salamis voted who
should receive the prize for valor each
but his own name first, but all put the
lame of Themistocles second. And
rhemlstocles received tie prize. So
loo through German. French and Eng
aish railway men would. dare say. all
but their own railways first, in eff
iency and they would all, am sure,
but yours second. and on the voting
bf the experts your railways would
,ome out first
Is not in other matters pre-eminently
bfhcient No one would say that your
Farmers were more efficient than those
bf France and England or that your
government is more efficient than the
government of Prussia. Your railways
have reached higher standard in in
Iernational comparison than your farm
hrs or your government, and under
greater difficulties, for In England and
bn the continent employment with a
Railway company is prize and man
hopes to remain in the service of the
ame company throughout his life He
i IS, therefore. obviously more amenable
10 discipline than the shifting and often
5ven foreign force employed on your
Railways"
When asked what was the principal
fault he had to find with the railway
administration Of this country, Mr..
kcworth said:
Il think the Capitalization of admin
strative power In your hearquarters
,fIiees in Chicago and New York, while
ending doubtless to efficiency and
economy, irresponsible in some degree
1or the present strained relations be-
ween the railways and the public. AS
wise railway friend of mine says,
5The counter between the salesman and
dhe customer is too wide. Matters
! That arise in Kansas, in Texas, in the
Jar south, In the far west and need
prompt adjustment have to be referr-
& d to officers a thousand or two thou
and miles away and the citizen in
he far west thinks he is dealing with
machine. He wants to deal person
lily with flesh and blood neighbor.
think that in these various import
s int sections of your country the large
Railroad systems should have real exc
utive officers with the largest possible
discretion to deal with local questions
IN the spot. | also think that the rank
ing officers of your railways should
yery now and then visit the different
Communities along their lines ad cul-
ivate the personal acquaintance of
heir citizens.
Some good work in this direction
being done. but there is opportunity
or a great deal more. If your great
ailway men were steadfastiy to pur-
zue this policy. | think they would
#oon live down much Of the antagon-
SIN that has been manifested in var
pus parts of the country. Time was
aen your railways had a good many
keletons in their cupboards and then
hey naturally kept them shut Now
days the skeletons are all buried and
think the railways would do we'll to
pen their cupboards and let the pub
ic see how sweet and clean they are.
THE investors of Europe and even
-Four own Wall Street seem hardly to
,rasp the enormous amount of money
hat must be spent upon your railroads
30 keep pace with your growing traf-
ic. If your t .nic GouDies every ten
ears, as it substantially does, you will
leed not perhaps to double your facili-
les every ten years. but to increase
hem at least by SO per cent. The
s. Il. sNt