Omaha daily bee., 1919-04-20
HOLDEN IN CITY
SAYS HINES WILL
NOT COME HERE
Former Burlington Chief En-
route to Coast to Join Rail-
road Administrator On
Inspection Trip.

That Director General Hines of
the United States railroad admins
tration will not pass through Oma-
ha on his return from a swing
around the country, was brought out
yesterday morning by Hale Holden.
regional director of the central dis
trict. who arrived in the city over
the Burlington. the road of which
he formerly was president, early
today.
Director Hines, instead, will look
over the roads of the Pacific coast
region, go down to Los Angeles
and return by one of the southern
routes, being back in Washington
about May Is.
At this time Mr.. Hines is inspect
ing the northern lines, picking up
regional directors and federal man
ayers and taking them along with
him. The same course will be pur-
sued until he reaches Washington.
Greer in City Friday.
Friday night, B. B. Greer, assistant
regional director of the central dis
trict passed through Omaha, en- route
west, going over the Burlington and
today he will join Hines in
Cheyenne, accompanying him for
several days.
Shortly after his arrival in
Omaha Mr.. Holden went into a con-
ference with former President Cal
vim of the Union Pacific, who, at the
present time, is also attached to the
railroad administration as federal
manager. Both officials left the city
on private car, attached to the
Union Pacific fast mail train, west
ward bound.
R. H. Stafford, engineer for the
central region and working under
the direction of Regional Director
Holden, will join the party in
Utah.
In Portland the Holden party will
meet Director General Hines, and
from that time on until Washington
is reached, the railroad administra-
ton of the United States will be on
wheels.
Trip Serves Two Purposes.
Discussing railroads and the rail-
road situation, during his brief stop
It the eUnion station yesterday
morning Regional Director Holden
said:
This plan of going across the
country to meet Mr.. Hines is for
two purposes. One is that the
regional directors and their as
sistants may be able to make close
inspection of lines over which they
exercise jurisdiction, and the other
10 to be with the director general
and talk over just what is needed in
the way of improvements and bet
terments along the respective roads
in the zone.
"Our Mr.. Stafford, chief engineer
for the Central division, has been in
the country west of the Missouri
river for several weeks. He has
been out on the lines, at the Offices
Of general managers and superin-
tendents, and in this way has come
in touch with the existing condi-
tons. He will be able to report
where improvements are needed and
what tho cost will be.
To Formulate Budget.
Officials of other districts will
pursue similar plans, and when Mr..
Hines gets these men all together
HI lA H.
position to make up the budget and
/ determine how much money is to
be expended and where.
Eve do not contemplate any new
projects in connection with the
railroads of the Central district. but
the properties will be kept in the
best of condition to be turned over
to former owners when that time
comes"
Mr.. Holden does not look for an
early transfer of the railroads back
to corporate ownership. Relative to
this he said:
"The government could not we'll
let go of the railroads at this time.
Eventually, however, there are in
dications that they will go back and
in the meantime it is important
that the properties be kept UP.
H. c. of L. Prevents Extension.
"The high cost of labor and the
equally high cost of material and
equipment is going to prevent the
extension of new lines and at the
same time is likely to prevent max
ing extensive improvements, other
than those absolutely necessary.
Gradually pre-war train service
is being restored and the character
of equipment that was formerly
run is being put back in service. The
entire situation seems to be adjust
ing itself and with the war ended
the railroads are going to get back
into business and on satisfactory
basis"