The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-25
Billions for Bcttermcnt Needed by
Railroads.

manufacturers Record.
III President Wilson, i'm his desire to
unfetter the commercial interests Of
the country. as he has on numerous
occasions indicated his anxiety to do
could give study to our transporta-
tion interests, he would soon realize
that the greatest business problem
which the American people face is
that Of inadequate railroad facilities.
For years the Manufa cturers Rec
ord has been persistently emphasizing
the need OF "a larger amount of rail-
road building. of better terminal ia
oiltties, OF better roadbed and Of
more rolling stock. If these letters
return again and again to the subject
II is because wherever j study the
problem in person, whether in the
Southwest, in the Central South, or
along the Atlantic seaboard, I am
more and more impressed with the
vital importance of vast betterment
IN ralIrOad conditions.
The progress Of the South is in
danger Of being seriously halted un-
less there shall come about an ex-
pansiOn in railroad facilities on
scale far greater than anything that
has ever been seen in railroad build
ing in this section.
| In the Southwest last spring the
pressing necessity for more railroad
Facilities was seen in every direction
throughout a journey of some thou
sand OF miles. That the Central
south has been growing more rapid
Is than its railroad facilities. despite
the vigorous efforts Of the Southern
Railway to improve it's roadbed and
donble-track much of its line, is full
ly recognized by every intelligent bus
iness man as well as by the railroad
people themselves In the Southeast
ern section. on down the coast into
Florida. there is lamentable situa-
ton rapidly developing.
| More than $4,000, ,OOO--an enor-
! nous sum for one road to spend
has been expended within the last
three years by the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad in lettering the conditions
OF that system. according TO a state
ment made last week by Chief Engi-
neer Stuart. And yet Mr. Stuart
points out that the problem Of the
Baltimore & Ohio is not that Of find
ing business. but Of trying to handle
business that Is offered to the road.
He says:
! In my opinion. after improving our
efficiency, after largely increasing our
facilities in general. and after judic-
iously spending $4,000. 900 in the last
three years to better our condition.
our needs are SO great that we are
not only not keeping up with the legi-
innate growth of business in our ter
ritory. but are falling behind"
/; Several years ago it was freely
stated that when the Southern Rail-
way had in 10 years expended $780,
100000 In improving its condition it
was less able to handle the volume of
business then offered than it had been
i. before it begun the expenditure Of
That sum. for the business had grown
faster than the expenditure had in
creased the facilities. Commenting
on this railroad situation, Mr.. Stuart
adds TO his recent article the follow
ing:
THE entire country today faces a
grave and serious condition in the
present relationship between the
amount of business which the coun-
try Is now Offering and the addition
al facilities which the railroads must
have TO handle it so as not to stop
the normal growth OF that business. q"
Mr.. Stuart is merely bringing once
more TO public attention that which
every careful student Of the situation
during the last five or six years fore
saw as result OF the outcome of the
conditions prevailing. Business is
outgrowing the railroads, and out
growing them rapidly, despite all they
are trying to do to keep up with it,
SO far as the South is concerned, the
development of this section could be
enormously advanced If tba ra;lroodS
were equal to financing their needs
and IL all OF the men dominating the
railroad situation Of the South fully
grasped the pOtentialites of this sec
tion.
The South needs, and needs badly.
great giant leader in railroad work
and in empire building. 1t needs a
Hartman or q Hill; man who can