The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-01
TO VALUE
RAILROAD LINES
Southern Committee Begins
Work That Will Take
Years to Complete.
CONGRESS SEEKING FACTS
Finley, johnson. IIarahan and
Emerson Represent South
ern Roads.

Executive officers OF many Southern
railroads who held a conference in
Richmond on Friday are preparing TO
take up Il question Of vital Importance
TO the transportation companies in all
parts OF the United States Under an
act OF Congress- passed in March. the
lnterJtate Commerce Commission Is III Z.
rected to make a physical valuation Of
all railroad lines. The exact nature OF
The new law has not been clearly un-
derstood. although the railroad people
nave gone about the work In hearty
accord with the desires OF the com
mission and with Il view Of giving the
government the precise information it
desires.
Some weeks ago a meeting Of all
inc railroad presidents in the country
was held In New York, at WHICH a
committee or eighteen was appointed
TO act for ali lines A committee of
eighteen was appointed TO assist the
commission. 1t is composed of seven
railroad presidents from the East. seven
from the West ana four from the
south.
To MIME Five Experts.
w w. FINLEY, president Of the South
ern Railway, l. l.. Johnson. president
OF the Norfolk aud Western. w j.
Harahan. president Of the seaboard
~ '''''' ii'u l. NJ inner son president
OF tho Atlantic Coast Line w,le named
AS tho Southern committee They ,n.l
mere on Friday to organic. and TO APP
point committee Of FIVE to i.presen;
the Souihe IN tines in the task OF arriv-
irG at the physical valuation OF South
ern properties. President Finley. who
is chairman OF the Southern commit
tee, 1as not announced the names OF
the men who will undertake this work.
but II is provided that there snail be
one legal adviser. VINO is no, rail
road lawyer one real estate man OF
large experience and practical knowl-
edge. and three engineers.
They are to confer with similar
committees representing the East and.
West, and with the Interstate Com
nerce Commission The point was
made clear that tho railroad presi-
dents are sincere in their desire to
cooperate in every possible way with
the commission 1t l. a stupendous
Undertaking. The bill. which was in
'roduced by Senator La Toilette. left
much to the imagination. SO to speak.
but a tho recent conference in New
York. II was given careful study and
legal Interpretation. SO that the eight
teen presidents who are to direct tho
inquiry on the part OF the roads with
the help OF experts. Will be able TO
proceed lnltillsentI: and IN harmony
win the letter and spirit OF the law.
VIII Take Years OF Work.
TO h& the physical valuation Of all
railroads in the United States. said a
railroad official Yesterday, lis a work.
the extent of which cannot SO COM
pretended by the ordinary mind. ana
l. say that without reflection upon the
intelligence OF the ordinary mind in
this country. II is difficult To arrive
at the exact value OF one railroad line
in Virginia. We know what IL cost.
To every month, the cost of mainte-
nance nxed charges. interest. and
everything like that. but when you
group all OF the roads. IL Is a work
Of tremendous Importance. Fortunate
~. however. the railroads arc work
ing together TO q common end. They
are cooperating with the Interstate
Commerce Commission but IL Will re-
quire years OF the most untiring labor,
and knowledge OF values possessed by
few people to prepare a report which
Will be understandable and satisfying
to the man who framed the law
Inquiry yesterday showed that the
Southern presidents who met in Rich
nond on Friday, largely as matter
OF convenience and because OF the ad-
ditioral fact that the principal Offices
Of many lines arc located here, did
not take IN the question of Il union
passenger station That problem will
he discussed at later conferences with
the CITY Council.