Evening star., 1919-04-20

A 81 N interesting. proposal for solu-
f, IN .ti9n Of the AMERICAN railway.
A, problem is contained in a
series of articles published in
the Railway Age, the author being F.
y. Idsman, New York banker who
has made a lifetime study: Of railroad
finances and economics. Mr.. Lisman's
proposal, in brief, is that the railways
of the country be consolidated into six
TO twelve great national competing
systems. under private ownership, but
strict governmental supervision. -
He advocates that weak, and strong
roads be combined lend to end" not
only to increase competition, but to
strengthen the credit of all the roads
and to make possible economies in
operation.
/. Purposes of the Plan.
The plan," the author says. lis in
tended TO accomplish the following.
Il. Provide for the immediate re-
turn of the railroads torthe companies
on aSbasis which will protect the COM
panies.
"a. Assure the government of a re-
turn within reasonable time Of any
advances made by it to the railroad
companies.
80. Provide for supervision of all
railroad securities.
"a Provide for proper railroad reg
ulation.
%. Provide for fair valuation which
is just to the public and to the COM
panies.
"6 Provide ample competition; in
fact, more than previously existing,
but will prevent same from being
wastefpI. - =.
81. Very important, it will put all
the railroads Immediately on a basis
of excellent credit.
49, Stimulate rehabilitation work
on part of the railroads and thus stim-
ulate business in general"
Eight Proposed Systems.
Mr.. Lisrnan makes a tentative pro-
posal for eight great national systems,
all of them with tidewater terminals and
five with terminals on both: the Atlantic
and Pacific. Under this proposed plan
Washington would be on five of the
great systems, two Of them transconti-
mental.
What he labels the "Union,, system
would be made up primarily by joining
the PENNSYLVANIA and Union Pacific
lines, with tributary and connecting
roads added. This would give a system
with Atlantic terminals south from Bos-
ton to Eastville. on the eastern shore of
Virginia; gulf terminal at Galveston
and Pacific terminals at Los Angeles,
Seattle and Portland, ~.
Joining the Southern railway with the
Southern Pacific, with tributary and
connecting lines. would place Washing
ton on the ''Southern-P Pacific system,
with western terminals at San Francisco
Two lines coming into Washington,
the Chesapeake and Ohio and the Sea-
board Air Line. would be in the."Mid-
land" system, which would have Allan
tic and gulf tel erminals and extend as far
great lakes at Buffalo, Cleveland, Chi
cago and other points.
Through the Baltimore and Ohio the
National Capital would be on the Con
tinental' system, with Atlantic termi-
mails north, to New York, gulf terminals
ct New Orleans and Galveston and
touching the Rio Grande at Ell Paso and
Laredo.
The Norfolk and Western and Atlantic
Coast Line would place Washington in
the Southeastern" system, with numer-
GUS Atlantic and gulf terminals and ex-
tending west to Chicago and the Missis-
lsippi river.
Act of Congress Proposed.
In elucidation Of his plan the author
says:
ITO accomplish these results, 1t is
proposed, that an act of Congress be
passed providing that railroad COM
panies agreeing to consolidate with
other railroad companies in accord
ance with the Instructions Of the In