Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-02-17
LIKE THE OLD HARTMAN
FIRE.
Plan TO Spend S76. 900, 900 Not
30 Important as II 10 Sig
nifieant Of q Contest with
tho GouIdR


The announcement, made this week
by Judge Lovett who succeeded the late
E. H. Hartman as head of the Pacific
roads, that these roads would spend
SIS, ZOO, 900 to double track both systems
to the Pacific Coast, is not significant
of the amount that is to be expended.
The sum of $75, 900, 900, spread over five
years is not large, and we believe the
main point is the determination to fol-
low out the policy of the aggressive Mr..
Hartman and keep these two systems
at the forefront in the Coast trade.
The Western Pacific, loaded with
debt, has just struggled to the Pacific
with its single track and the hackers of
the Pacific roads see what an advantage
they will have if they go ahead now, at
time when the Western Pacific has
exhausted itself as borrower, and
complete and put in operation two
double track lines to the Coast before
the Gould line, even with the possible
help of Hill, can more than struggle
beyond the point of being able to pay
its fixed charges, if it does that.
But it is not alone Gould who is aimed
at. On the north is the more vigilant
and resourceful j. ]. Hill, whose roads
are not handicapped as are those of the
Goulds. The Hill system is steadily
pushing down from the north through
Oregon and where the Oregon Short
Line is being strengthened by the Union
Pacific management. This latter de-
sires completed and well rounded out
system with which to meet the OPP
position on both sides. AS it now ap-
pears, the Hartman system will be
much ahead of the others. j. j. Hill
has been altogether too pessimistic in
the last six months or more, and, if he
should turn to rectify his error now by
endeavoring to finance some big oper-
atoms to meet the Union Pacific move,
he might find the avenues of borrowing
already occupied. At all events Judge
Lovett and his directors are many
months ahead in their plans of all COM
petitors.
Surprise having been expressed that
the adoption of the new policy of liberal
expenditure was in the face of a posi-
BILE refusal from the Interstate Com
MERGE Commission to grant freight
rate increases and in a time also of
somewhat unsettled industrial condi-
ditions, it is very pertinently declared:
Ever since this freight-rate contro-
versy began, a number of railroad
leaders have been holding up improve
ments on the theory that such action
would have a favorable effect on the
final decision. That is the old fashioned
idea. In the end they will find the
regulation of the railroads has come to
stay, and that harm instead of good has
been done by postponing needed i'm
provements.
If we wait until all difficulties are out
of the way, we shall probably find our
lines falling behind instead of doing
their share in the development of the
growing country in which they are stu
ated. We have kept abreast thus far,
and we intend to continue that policy as
long as we can, regardless of temporary
disturbances of any kind. At all events
we have resolved to go ahead with the
things that ought to be done as long as
we are able to do them.
This is the old Hartman spirit and
fire revived. 1t is good to see it, and
the new policy should hearten tagging
industry everywhere as no single event
of like ma ture could do.