The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-25
EVERYONE L|KESTO KNOCK RAILROADS Really Something Good Discovered About Them LET BUSINESS REST" Political Agitation Keeps Large Busi- ness Interests in the Air-What
 Do You Know? Is Wall
 Street Greeting
By PRESTON c. ADAMS

Fly PRESTON C. ADAMS New York, February 17.-(Special. Ut is quite the proper thing in some circles to hammer the railroads in season and out Of season. It seems to be the proper thing If anything goes wrong in business to blame 1t on the railroads. They are big and can stand it. It is gratifying. there- fore, once in a while to have an oppor- tunfty to say something good of the American railroads.
 The bureau of railway economies has been making some comparisons which show the American roads in a favorable light as compared with the European roads. The portion of the United States comprised In what the interstate com merce commission designates as group Il, consisting approximately of the states of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland Is comparable as to area, population and industrial devel- opment with the United Kingdom, with France and with Prussia Hesse, the lat ter containing the more important rail- ways of Germany.
 The density of population of group II. however. Is only about half that of the United Kingdom. In proportion to area, group Il has greater number of miles of line, but the number of miles of track is slightly less. In proportion to popula ton group Il has over twice as many miles of line and virtually twice as many miles of track. including additional run ming tracks and sidings Ton mile and passenger mile statistics are not kept in Great Britain. but group Il has a freight train density about three-fourths as great as that of the United Kingdom and a. passenger train density about two-fifths as great. In view of the known differ ence between the observation that freight traffic must be more dense in group II than in the United Kingdom. Freight revenues per mile of line are over one fourth greater.
 The net capitalization per mile of line of the railways of the United States is less than e-fourth that of the United Kingdom, and less than one-ffth that of the railways of England and Wales alone.
 Freight density in group II tons moved one mile per mile of road) is nearly four and a half times as great as that of France, while the freight revenues per mile of line are a little more than two
 
 senger density (passengers moved one mile per mile of road) is not quite three fourths that of France, while the pas senger revenues per mile are about one- tenth those of France
 In proportion to area, group il has one and one-third times the miles of line of Prussia-Hesse and in proportion to pop ulation much more than twice as many. Freight traffic density of group II is over twice as great. while the freight revenues per mile are only about one-sixth great CT. Group II carries an average freight train load over twice as great as that of Prussia-Hesse. Passenger traffic density is about two-fifths that of Prussia -Hesse while the passenger revenues per mile of line are about six-sevenths
 For goodness sake give us rest for time. This idea" said William Livingston of Detroit, president of the American Bankers association, "is the uppermost thought in the business world today" Mir. Livingston who Is president of /the Lake Carriers asso- citation, is here "If this were not a presidential year. should look for 1912 10 be one of the most prosperous bus mess years we ever had" continued MT. Livingston, but with the uncer- tainty attending the political situa tion. with the probability that there
  branch of the government and perhaps also In the executive end, the large business interests are in the air. They do not know which way to turn
 But l see splendid outlook for the future. When the political clouds have cleared and the country Is back again for period of rest I look for an era of prosperity in this country unpar- alleled in the history of the nation. There never was a time when the con ditions were so propitious. States that few years ago were borrowing money are now in a position to lend money; Farmers who were plastered with mortgages now have balances in bank The. financial institutions all overs the country are well supplied with monoy but because of the uncertainty regard ing the political situation capital nat urally timid, Is hesitating and this, Of course. has an influence in all lines of business endeavor. What the bank CTS want and what business wants is vacation from the continual agita- tion that has been upsetting things for the last several years"
 Recently an observing Wall street man kept a tally of the number of times he was asked What do you lSnow?' and ayers that the question was asked him 2l4 times in the course of a day. To the unnitiated this would seem a com fiihthi' DHt ii wan etIctt 1t IS a pore and delusion. In most cases the per son asking the question does not wait for reply and certainly does not listen. Some wags have a stereotyped, and, what they think to be humorous reply, but most people say nothing new" and then commence giving their latest tips. infor- nation and opinions. In Wall street 1t is the usual form of greeting, and Is of about as much importance as good morning or good night"
 One of the most unsatisfactory signs in the west" said bank officer the other day, lis contained in a letter from one of our western correspondents. Farm CTS, he says, are pursuing an almost un- form policy of marketing their cattle, which is pity as they can get 60 cents