The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-09
LET UNCLE SAM HELP.

Nobody stands in much greater need
of money than do the American rail-
roads Their facilities for meeting the
country's transportation requirements
are taxed to the limit and are known
to be inadequate. They need enlarge
ment of terminals, increases in rolling
stock and extensions of trackage. No
body appears willing to lend them the
cash necessary for these purposes <ex-
cept at a rate of interest which is so
high as to be sprohibitive.
Since the government has entered
the money lending business and is
supplying our allies abroad and the
farmers at home. why should it not
make the necessary advances to the
railroads? Collections would be in its
own hands and the security is good.
The governments relation to the
railroads up to this time has been
wholly restrictive. but the time has
come when it ought to be also con-
structive. Regulation is inevitably re-
strictive in some respects, and this
phase of it tends to divert capital to
other employment. To offset this eff
| feet the governments relation to the
railway business should be likewise
constructive. giving some positive aid
tc the support and development of the
great transportation industry, which it
recognizes as holding vital relation
ship to all the other industries.
Such a program can only be
promptly and adequately carried out,
under the conditions which will exist
al the close of the war, by the aid of
government credit, and it should be
done under a just and reasonable ar
rangement between the companies and
the government. which will ultimately
reimburse the government, and at the
same time provide an incentive for the
Initiative and enterprise of private
management, and secure to the pub
lie the benefits of adequate and pro-
gressive service.
1t has been demonstrated that not
withstanding the great amont OF
capital expended upon the railways in
the last seventeen years, their devel-
orment has not kept pace with the
growth of traffic. Daring as the plans
OF some of the leaders in the railway
world appeared to be seventeen years
ago. the country has outgrown the
facilities of even the most enterpris-
ing companies Furthermore it is
apparent that the railway problem car
rot be adequately dealt with by the
companies acting independently and
alone. The situation requires com
prehensive treatment. particularly al
terminals. looking far to the future
and requiring an amount of capita
which the companies alone cannot un.
dertake to raise in the state of the
worlds money markets in the near flu.
ture, nor can expenditures planned
upon a scale adequately to care fol
the future be expected to be imme
diately remunerative to the railroads
altho the improved service would. b,
advantageous to the country
An extensive scheme to develop anS
improve the country's transportation
system would do more to equip tn,
country for economical production
and to enable it to hold its own il
worlds markets than perhaps an,
other single thing that can be done
ard if such program could be read.
for announcement at the close of tn,
war it would put an end to all un
: certainty and apprehension about bus
il ess conditions in the United State
In the period following the war. 1
t could be so adjusted and carried on
as to take up all the industrial slaci
for years to come.