The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-28
AMERICAN RAILROAD EXECUTIVES
 STUDY OPERATION OF 'ENGLAND'S
 ROADS UNDER GOVERNMENT RULE

New York Dec. 2s-Immersed in sreculatl on as to what part they would play in the future war opera ton of the railroads of the country, transportation executives turned theii. attention today to the, operation of the English railroads since August, 1914. The plan adopted by the Presi- dent IS similar in many respects to the English system and, with their lack ot information as to the details of the American plan. railroad men sought guidance in the British experiences for what might happen in America
 The American railroad men are proud of what was accomplished by the Railroads War Board in it's in crease of the eficiency of the Amert- can railroada They pointed out that under the Esnglish plan, while tbs ex+odicic chairman of the Central Railway Executive Committee of Eng land .s4ase the chaifman of the Board of Trade d Cabinet oHicer, the physi- cal operation os shs roads remained in the hands of the other members of the committes, practical railroad men, under the direction of Sir H. A. walker of the London Southwestern railroad They were wondering II some similar plan would be adopted in this country. It is the hope ot the railroad executives not to get any further than possible away from their old control of their properties They are especially anxious that there shall be as Iittle distur bance as pos sible of the eaiStlng forces of trans pcrta3ioni systemA
 A few days after the English gov ernment took oyer the operation oi the British roads the following state ment was issued to the men on all the roads:
 "The taking over by the govern ment of the control of this railway IS for the purpose of facilitating the movement of troopA It must be clearly understood that the terms o1 employment of the staff will reD-ir tnaltered and instructions as to tht men will be issued through the same channels as heretofore.
 In an address in this city last weei Judge Prouty, head of the govern. pent valuation work and forme, member of the Interstate Commerce Commission, said that 1t would bs madness fer the government to under, take. . reorganization of the operat ing forces of the roads, and that rail road men must continue in tl1eh jebs.
 There igs one important feature o1 fheA English plan which. American railroad men do not believe will be made use of here-that is, that al troops and supplies for the Englist government are hauled free, the dencit in income resulting being made up by the English government, whict has guaranteed the roads the same annual. income for the period of tho war as they had in the year 1913.
 The English early met the difaculty now forecast in this country-that Is the problem of dealing with extension of equipment made necessary by gov ernment needs. It was seen that 2 read forced to make extensions fol this peculiar service out of It's owr resources would be; in a worse posi- tion than tit3se which dAa not. There Tore. a subsequent agreement wal made in which the government prom ised to pay interest at 4 per cent. or all capital invested in new equipmen aftersAug. |. 19l4s
 Soon after the English government took o19f the roads 1t faced the prob lem American railroad men have beer facinE of not being able to keep III maintenance at old allowances be cause of increased costs. Therefore the companies were permitted to al low for maintenance as mpch as hat been allowed in 1913 usual 2 per cen to cover for increased casts and extrs wear and tear on equipment due tt war operation strain.
 One of the problems Director Gen 0Eaa adcAdco is expecteds to. tackle soon is that Of bringing about a de crease in passenger trafs1c It hal ben reai4ssd ley railroad men that tn, problem sDannot be solved by sinpi, taking sB trains, The same number of per3ons trying 70 travel on fewel trains han renuIfed The passenge traflic on American railroads is toda. chat thsre YEe 3 good rsaspr for theil