Evening journal., 1919-04-19

from year to year. this has been largely provided
In the large capacity Of the individual units equip
and he greater efficiency at the present tme in the
method handling freight To meet this annual program
construction the oabudng capacity OF the United
states should be approximately 10000 per year. AS
matter Of fact the capacity IN the United States al
most double this ngure made necessary in providing for
the larger number OF ordered during prosperous
years This excess represents economic waste many
] OF the plants stand Idle during all but boom times.
'The conditions are unfair 20 the men In the manu-
featuring establishments In that their work is not perma
nent and their living Is transient" Mr.. Ernst asserts.
"Dlncult financing IS necessary and workmanship par
tcuarly OF men. In The rush OF plants running be-
yond their rated capacity. naturally Is not satisfactory
With a more uniform output the same laborers would
continue line Of work, become more efficient and
better class Of work and lower costs would result Car
building companies would benon further tn having uni
form financial obligations from year to year"
The situation from The viewpoint Of the railroads is
equally unsatisfactory With business at low ebb. the
roaroads contribute further to this depression by with
holding orders deprying themselves OF the great ton
mage incident to the building Of and locomotives
This tonnage at such times could be hauled at little add
tona expense as train crews must be maintained and
cars and locomotives available. With the freight
movement below normal, this additional tonnage would
come when badly needed and would increase very
teraly gross and net receipts As II Is large number OF
cars locomotives stand idle and there not sufficient
The building Of railroad equipment In poor times
would stimulate many other dependent lines. In an
ordinary ftytone steel gondola for example, there
would be required about twelve TO fifteen tons Of sruct
ural and plate Steel connection with the manufacture
and this STEEL pig iron, coke, limestone scrap and
other Ingredients representing several times the tonnage
OF the finished STEEL be handled by the railroads
Stimulation Of these various lines of industry dependent
upon the steel industry. likewise stimulates other lines
In turn dependent upon them, that the effect Is far
reaching in It's fan-lke extensions to the various depend
ent lines
The above discussion has dealt largely with freight
cars but applies also TO passenger cars locomotives
and also TO the maintenance Of way department covering
rails ties bridges stations, yards etc. as well as shops
roundhouses and terminals.
whatever the future OF the railroads. the government
should continue to exercise supervision that will perpet
uae certain practices administration and operation
that have unquestlonably proven OF value" Mr. Ernst
adds ITO these should be added plan providing
for more uniform annual purchases Of equipment and
supplies The idea OF equaized purchases by th all
roads could be extended TO a much broader ned IT.
90 the government itself. and the opportunities ar ch
as possibly to justify branch Of Business Stabilzaon
in some one Of the departments at Washington"