Semi-weekly herald., 1913-01-27
PROBLEM FOR THE RAILWAYS.
How to Secure More Reasonable Fa-
cilities for Handling the Rapidly

Increasing General Trade.
James ]. Hill prepared the address
for delivery at the annual dinner Of
the Railway Business association, in
December with especial care. He
made his own choice of the subject,
selecting for a text "The Country's
Need of Greater Railway Facilities
and Terminals" 1t is subject to
which Mr. Hill has given much
thought, especially during the past
five years.
Three or four years ago he asserted
that the railways of the United States
would need hundreds of millions of
new capital if they were to provide
reasonable facilities for the increase
in traffic which would be offered by
agricultural and industrial industries
of the United States. What Mr.. Hill
has learned since he made this some
what startling statement is under
stood to have confirmed him in the
accuracy of his opinion. His friends
in this city report him as convinced
that second to no other question be-
fore the people of the United States
is that involving vast improvement
of railway facilities and terminals.
Other able railway leaders have
foreseen the danger which awaits the
American people unless within few
years railway facilities and terminals
are greatly improved and extended.
This is forecast which, it is under
stood, President Samuel Rea of the
Pennsylvania railroad, has recently
made. In doing that he has confirm
ed views expressed by his immediate
! predecessors in the presidency Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad company.
William C. Brown, president of the
New York Central railroad system,
is understood to be of the opinion that,
colossal as are the terminal improve
ments that cost over hundred mil
lions which his company is making in
the heart of New York city, yet these
no more than symbolic what his sys-
tenn must do, and within short time,
if it is adequately to handle the vol
ume of traffic which our increasing
agricultural and industrial production
will offer.
No doubt Mr.. Hill regarded the time
and place as opportune for his expo
sition upon the text, "The Country's
Need of Greater Railway Facilities
and Terminals" Since late summer
business activities of every kind-ag-
ricultural and industrial-has grown
so greatly that now it is of magni-
tude practically without precedent In
cidental to this growth has peen the
embarrassment which the railway
managers have faced and in great
measure overcome, although with diff
| ficulty, in handling the immense and
unexpected volume of traffic offered
What railroads and shippers have ev-
perienced this fall and are now en-
periencing is one of the best object
lessons to show what will be expert
enced within the next five years. If
business prosperity continues ana if
the railroads are compelled to over
come, as far as possible, their en-
barrassments by hand-to-mouth meth
ods.
The late President A. ]. Cassett Of
the Pennsylvania system intimated ten
years ago that the kind of congestion
that stagnates trade will surely be
occasioned within ten or fifteen years
unless the railroads of the Unit ID
States greatly increase their faoili-
ties.
The place chosen by Mr.. Hill f:r
the presentation Of this subject is also