The Washington herald., 1917-06-09
HOLLAND LETTER
The Biggest Daily
Financial News Feature of
the COunty's Best Newspapers.

DR.. PliDmon H. Dudley forty-three
years ago invented the dynagraph ap-
paratus, for the purpose of testing
rails. A little later he invented the
track indicator. and In 1893 designed d
the tirst five-inch steel rail used in
the United States. and nine years later
he introduced the first six-inch loo
pound rail. Now, forty-three years
after his firsL invention was used sue
cessfully, 1t Is believed BY railroad
operators that he has absolutely per-
fected a formula for manufacturing
the rail so that there is elimina tion
OF the danger OF breakage.
DR.. Dudley returned this morning
from trip of Inspection to various
steel plants, having gone as far West
as Gary and Chicago. and having
spent also some time in Pittsburgh,
Hls investigations satisfy him that
only one thing Is lacking to enable
the steel plants and the rail-making
plants Of the United States to furnish
all Of the equipments OF this kind
Which the railroads may need within
the next year or two. That lacking
factor is tho incapacity of the steel
or the steel-rail making plants OF the
they are now producing
For instance, were the steel plants
able to deliver at Gary, Ind. 5000
tons OF steel month, the delivery
would be substantially useless because
the stcel-rail making plant at Gary
now has orders upon its books which
viii entail its entire capacity for pro-
duction throughout the year 1918 The
steel mills, driven as they are, would
in fact be unable to furnish so much
steel as this, nor could government
supervision or interference be Of any
avail in enabling them to increase
their product, or to divert some por-
n uN tAaF 1. i.
the manufacture of steel rails.
Yet 1t is imperative that the rail-
roads of the United States be thor
ouEhly equipped with rails ard with
other apparatus which reflects the
best results OF the inventors efforts
II the transportation which is now
necessary and the increased demands
for transportation after we have en-
tered fully upon the war, are to be
met.
American Railroad Men In France
DR.. Dudley said this morning that
the public has little or no comprehen-
sion of the demands which will be
made for railroad transportation In
the United States from this time or
until the war is ended. In fact, that
demand will not cease with the enc
OF the war, since the American rail.
roads will be driven to their capacity
IN transporting commodities which will
be needed by the allies In rebuilding
their devastated industries and theil
'ailroads.
DR.. Dudley spoke in the highes,
terms OF the organization OF what ht
called the American railroad con.
structing brigade, which is to be sent
to France at the earliest moment pos,
slble Tor the purpose Of reconstructina
French railroad systems. Some of the
lnes IN France are greatly run dowr
and this condition impedes effective
military service. This American rail.
road constructing brigade, in DR.. Dud.
ley's opinion, would be able within
SIX months thoroughly to perfect
French railroad systems, II only they
were sure OF obtaining supplies as fast
as they are needed. It may take, there.
fore, year to complete this recon
structive work in France.
All the great railroad orerating
torces IN Europe (even those of Ger.
many, until war began) admit the
superiority OF American railway con.
structive skill. After our enemies Cet
10 france it will be possible to cal
from the ranks hundreds and per.
haps thousands of men who are ia.
mlliar with railway construction, who
| are expert in repairing equipment
| cars, and locomotives. and some Of
whom are capable of running engines
therefore it is the expectation that
the French railway system will within
year be thoroughly perfected.
me skill OF the northern railway
was, DR.. Dudley remembers, demon.
strated many times during our civil
| war. The Confederate armies fire
quently tore up tracks and DESTROYED
| equipment, but this devastation wa
sPeedily repaired. General Grant once