The Washington herald., 1914-03-15
By JAMES N. MORROW.

The greatest inventory OF properly
ever attempted by man or government u
now under way in the United States
All the railroads In the country ar
to be valued. their $4,000 miles OF track
their cars and locomotives, tner teai
mails and stations. as well as eacn .en
included in the tremendous mass OF tnen
smaller possessions. Even shovets anc
lifting-jacks will be counted on VIII % %
measured by the gallon and spikes WI
be weighed by the pound
What the Panama Canal Is TO ensi
neering, the inventory WIN De 10 &C
counting. There is enough railway mile
age as a whole for seventy-seven Trans
continental lines from New York 70
San Francisco and plenty would remain
for a single-track road to Tampa IN
Florida. The Pennsylvania Company
operating one of the many existing sys.
TENS, has 5000 engines and $4,000 freign'
cars.
The colossal undertaking. at FIRST SOUND
and glance, seems to be financial ano
technical. II Is both and tmmensiy So
but II intimately concerns every man
woman and child, native or alien. iivine
under the Stars and Strtpes The nnai
figures. whatever they may be. WI nave
an important effect. men In Wasnnstol
aver, on the cost Of ones daily expenses.
Freights will go up or freishts will so
down. The possibility Is remote that
they will remain unchanged Railroad
presidents say they are not making
money enough. Agitators like Louis ID.
Brandeis, the Boston lawyer. reply that
the presidents and directors are wasting
100000 a day through mismanagement.
Socialists are arguing for government
ownership.
The continent of facts relating to the
great transportation question Is unmap-
ped. Men have emerged from the mys-
terry and tangie af region unknown TO
the ordinary American with contradic-
tory stories of its soil, climate, and re-
sources The railroads are opulent. say
some The railroads are being made beg
gars by legislation and interference, say
others.
Now at last the truth is to be discov-
cred. Uncle Sam is to do some exploring
on his own account. He has fitted out
an expedition Of discovery, armed 1t with
authority. and sent it forth. At the head
of it is Charles A. Prouty, shrewd and
seasoned investigator, an expert with
both telescopes and microscopes. Years
ago, indeed, he was an astronomer. For
a long time, however, his work has been
nearer at hand. He is to survey and
chart that part of the railroad world
situated within the United States.
Helping him will be 1,50O engineers and
about loo real estate specialists, clerks,
and stenographers. 1t will require four
years in which tc do the work. and posi-
bly, seven years will pass before 1t Is
finished. AS to its cost, Mr.. Prouty said:
Il told a committee of Congress, when
the question was up. that they ought not
TO begin valuing the railroad property
of the country unless they were willing,
II il were necessary, to spend SIS, 5,0O0.0 .00o."
How much will it costs the railroads."
[ asked.
They will be required to supply us
with maps and certain information at an
expense to them, SO I am tcld, OF Sl0,-
NO.OOO'
Are railroad men showing a DISPOSE
ion to aid YOU in the natter"
''Oh. yes. They say they are heartily
in favor of a national appraisement of