The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-05

nus el'inpltu lnG IeIOfHlaIlOn or the railroads and has struggled for in- formation bearing on the subject The knowledge obtained was fragmentary ana the work that resulted was unsat- lsfactory in the main. Finally a way was undertaken. It took the initial form of prosaic demand from the railroads for an application to the in- terstate commerce commission for an advance of points in freight rates. east or the Mississippi and north of the ohlo, Tn order to have more earned money Tor wages and other current ex- penses. There were 52 railroads in an ofganization. consisting of presidents of that many lines, and MT Daniel Will iaru was made president, with praeti- eaily autoeratic power to frame and carry out campaign. The commits sion suggested the presentation of full statistical data covering a period of ID years. It took tn railroads five months of the work of an army of experts and was d complete and accu- rate Job. To make the situation a great specialist lawyer of Boston. Rrandafs. by name. was called upon for help emphasis on "help." Additional oues- tions to the number of S2 were pro posed-most of them intricate A big force Of the best mathematicians in the market worked on the supplemental iob about four months. Commissioners. government officials, the newspapers (from coast to coast). the public and finally the railroad presidents were at tackled with nervous hysteria Busi- hess men the country over had pre- viously given moral encouragement and financial support to the theory of quick settlement of the rate problem. The whole country was aroused and Wall street responded with a bull movement over the prospect of prompt and pleas da1tt O. a
 tions whose complete replies would fill a 1000, 0,000-bushel grain elevator. par- alyzed bull enthusiasm and for month or more the whole financial world was In a state of stubborn and angry in- action. At various times through the nine-month campaign there were pe- riods of rallies and breaks occasioned by developments in the long rate cam paign. As a market factor the rate question took public precedence over every other issue. The President was finally forced into action and let it be known that he and the rest of man kind would be grateful to the commits sioners for a verdict, without further soul distracting delay. It's early arrival is authoritatively promised at last.
 Statistical Research
 One feature of conspicuously domi- nant importance is the result of the wonderful statistical nine- month re- search of the crops of experts. All es- sentfal details of receipts and disburse- ments per month, for periods of five and 10 years, were included in the re- ports to the commission, and the facts grouped by long and brief periods. It was the first comprehensive and com plete story Gin detail and as a whole) of nearly 10O,000 miles of "officially classified' railroad, under more than 50 m a r a or mo to public or private inspection. It was a revelation, even to those individually best informed. It Is a miraculous per formance as 1t stands. When the work thus entered upon in the eastern sec tion of the United States, vitally desir- able to every railroad management is completed the whole country as never before, will be enlightened on the inti- mate details of the worlds greatest in- dustry. It is doubtful if any of the richest of the international bankers ever before known as much about the hitherto semi-private concerns of the American transportation investments- data of heretofore almost a mystery to the many. The finished work will be open soon to the study of every in telligent man and woman investor. None feel greater need for the fund of accurate inside" statistical knowl- edge of the separate corporation than the heads of the properties, and the facts will be within reach of every body. It brings into close knowledge of students the most valuable record of in dustrfal development ever compiled. In this connection the pregnant thought will force itself upon popular atten- tfon that the figures just furnished may be the data for formidable cam paisn for government ownership. The way has been opened as never before It will not be long before the issue of government ownership will be seriously discussed. The basis for action has been furnished.