The Washington herald., 1919-04-19
AUTO Lines CUT
RAILWAY COSTS
Motor Buses for Branch
Lines Big Saving. Says
Holland.

run q very early morning train from
Winchester to Harpers Ferry. Rarely
did that train carry more than ten
passengers. Yet for the operation
sof II the services Of five men were
needed These passengers could nave
been transported In an auto buss. II
the high grade auto buss had then
been perfected. over the old valley
turnpike, and the services OF only
one man would have been required.
In this way Colonel Charles Hine
Illustrated the great expense entailed
by the operation of many of the
branch railroad lines in the United
states Hardly any Of them pay
much more than running expenses. II
1they do that Colonel Hine Is per-
suaded that in the new era OF eco
nomic development into which the
United States Is now entering many
of these branch lines will be aban-
doned and the service which they have
heretofore performed at loss viii
be given by the auto buss and the
motor truck
; Col Hine Is well qualified to speak
; with expert authority upon this sub
: -ject- There Is not soldier OF the
New York Sixty-njnth Regiment. as II
was known before the war. who does
miration Of him, for he was the COM
mander of the old ''Sixty-ninth" and
went abroad with II in 1917. Soon
after the arrival OF the regiment in
France he was placed In charge OF
the Motor Transportation Corps ana
so perfected IL as to make 1t a most
valuable accessory of the Twenty
seventh division
Although a graduate Of West Point
Col. Hine became a year or two az
ter graduation associated with some
of the leaders in railroad transpor-
tation. II was he who installed the
unit system OF organization Of the
Union Pacihc-Southern Pacific COM
pany. and he was also much occu-
pied with railroad development at
the time OF our difficulties in Mexico.
Motor Transportation Corps.
Under the Jurisdiction Of the Mo-
tor Transportation Corps as organ
1zed and directed by Col Hine in
France there were about $4,000 pro-
pelled vehicles and 5000 bicycles
These figures do not include the trac-
tors nor the tanks.
The wonderful work accomplished
by the Motor Transportation Corps
In the way of support of the
Twenty-seventh Division caused
Col. Hine to realize that when the
war was ended II was probable that
throughout the United States there
would be developed q very great use
: of motor trucks and vehicles for
commercial purposes.
In his opinion II will be expedient
for the railroad companies Of the
United States speedily to avail
themselves Of the opportunities
which the use of the motor truck
and auto buss will offer. 1t may be
that in order to utilize vehicles OF
this kind as feeders for their main
railroad lines it will be necessary
TO secure amendments to the char
fers of the railroads. But IL should
not be difficult to obtain the con-
sent of legislatures for amendments
of this kind.
= The manufacturers OF motor
trucks and auto busses are now wen
UP to date. They are capable OF
meeting any demand which may be
nut upon them for transportation OF
this kind. But what Is necessary Is
the perfecting of highways. II mo-
tor transports lion is developed upon
a large scale then. in Col Hines 5
Sopinion. the country will return to
the turnpike system. Motor trans
ports may be made to replace rail-
ways for short hauls and for highly
speciaIized long hauls of certain ma
terjaI for manufacture and consump-
ton which require prompter deliv-
cry than railways can make at con-
gested terminals.
Direct Delivery Possible.
~ Motor transport of commodities
syiII. to a considerable extent, re-
Iduce the necessity for constructing
large and elaborate terminals and in
all probability few new branch
railway lines will hereafter be built.
Instead there will be reinforced
Highways on which auto busses will
take the place of passenger trains.
motor trucks will take the place OF
package freight cars. and tractors
will be used for hauling heavy and
coarse commodities.
Already in some parts of the coun-
try there is to be observed a consider
= able development of the motor truck
used for long hauls. The old stage
. coach road between New York and
Boston is, in the early morning hours.
Il filled with motor trucks bearing to and
4, from New York and Boston and the
intermediate cities. freight which was
formerly carried by the railroad A
large motor truck business has already
been established between New York.
! Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washing
ton. Reports reached New York that
already extensive and increasing use
Of motor trucks for the Transports
ton of freight Is observable In Ohio.
The Railroads Policy.
Years ago the American railroad
companies had opportunity to manu-
-facture and operate for themselves re-
-frigerator cars. This opportunity they
neglected. 1t was seized by private
capital until at last these cars be-
. came so important q factor in trans
porting meats. poultry. dairy products
and oil that the owners Of the cars
were able to dominate the railroads.
Now at the beginning Of what seems
likely to be a very large development
Of motor truck. and for short
distances, passenger transportation by
means Of auto buss, II may be worth
while for the railroad companies to
undertake., II the law permits or can
be so amended as to permit. the opera
ton Of service of this kind as feeders
for the main railroad line.
:. Col Hine says that the operation
Of motor cars and auto busses will
serve to bring the villages and the
cities into closer touch Just as the
trolley and the telephone have al
ready brought villages nearer to
cities so far as time and conven-
fences are concerned. furthermore
r,AfAr foy ha