The Washington herald., 1915-04-02
"Hamstringing The Corporation
Startling Allegations to What Legislation Has Done
Threatens to Do to Railroads
in Ohio

I suit has been that, on the reduced grade
| portions of roadways. single trains of
| greater number of cars can be operated
! than can be run over those portions OF
| the road where grades have not been re-
| duced. 1t may be Illustrated in the fact
| that over the low grade portions of its
| right OF way the X 4 NJ. Railway. for
Instance, can run single trains OF is
| cars, either loaded or empty. as against
| 50 on the other parts Of its roadway.
| The Wheeling & Lake Eric Railway
| hauls a train of 20 cars over low grade as
compared with 80 over the other parts
OF its road. After having spent these
millions of dollars to reduce grades and
SO permit hauling more cars to each
| train that economy in operation, which
| Is secured at the expense OF invested
money. and not at the expense of labor
employed or passengers served. 1t Is
NOW proposed TO enact legislation In
Ohio. that no railroad company shall run
| over its tracks a train carrying in ex-
cess Of 60 cars This means that the b.
& o. Railway. as an Illustration, which,
by its roadbed conditions can now run
trains of III cars over the low grade part
of its roadway and Is cars to the train
over other parts thereof. must split this
number into three trains-three separate
engines and three separate crews and the
resulting increased expense. Not only of
vestment and depreciation, but the add
ed one Of liability. for the records dis
close that accidents are greater to
freight trains of 60 cars or less than on
trains in excess Of 90 cars, these records
showing, for instance. that on the less
cars freight trains handled by the P. &
L. z. Railway occurred IS per cent of
the accidents experienced. the c.. H. &
d. Railway showing 81 per cent. of its
accidents to be on its less than so freight
car trains. the p. & L. Z. Railway oper-
ating but 81 per cent. Of its freight
trains with more than 60 cars thereto,
and the c.. II. & d. Railway sending
out but % per cent. Of its trains with
more than 60 cars attached.
Cost Of Car Limit.
When a bill of such character is pro-
posed for passage In the legislature. its
real effect Is not generally appreciated
by the public. Take in this case, in
which it is proposed to limit the number
Of freight cars that may be carried to
one train. we do not pay any attention
to 1t. A bill to limit train length to so
freight cars is not impressive to most Of
US. the figure 60 not being one of large
denomination. But what 1t means to
railroads is quite a different proposition.
Such q law means millon-dollar in
creases annually. We understand that
on less than half the roads having track
mileage In the State. the approximate
increased cost to them. to obey this pro-
posed new law. would be about 81. so, 900
a year. To comply with the proposed
law to govern caboose cars. 1t is de-
clared, will add another 81, 800 900 a year
to expenses. These are big figures and
mean big things to railroad properties |
and to investors therein.
What must be experienced by the own !
ers and operators or receivers of roads J
now sustaining heavy annual losses. to !
have staring them in the face proposed i
laws the whole and only effect Of which |
will be to increase losses?
Roads showing Losses.
Here Is a list Of railroads operating in |
Ohio, each one of which shows heavy |
annual losses. Look over them and see =.
what these new laws, adding more ex-
penses without any return to them there |
Ynnst