Evening star., 1919-04-20
MOTOR MAY DOOM
SHORT RAIL LINES
Feeders for Trunk Roads Oft
en- Run at a Loss, Says
Official.
ADDRESSES TRAFFIC MEN

That the railroad OF, the future may
find it more economical to tear up
short-line tracks and develop motor
truck transportation in their place
was the forecast made recently in an
address on the future status of the
railroads by c. A. Morse, assistant
director of operation in charge of
engineering and maintenance for the
United States Railroad Administra-
ton.
Mr.. Morse delivered his paper be-
fore the members of the New York
Railroad Club, and his remarks were
followed with close attention as COM
ing from one of the best known rail-
road men in the country.
New Element introduced.
The perfection of the motor truck
and tractor. together with the uni
versal use of the automobile. has in
troduced a new element into the
transportation problem that should
be taken into consideration at this
time. while studying the reorganiZa-
tion of the whole transportation Ques-
tion," said Mr.. Morse. h
Good roads are demanded for the
use of the automobile. and a study
should be made to see what addi-
tional expense would be necessary SO
to construct them that they would
serve for motor truck and tractor.
the country for fifty miles either side
of trunk line of railroad has re-
quired' the construction of light
branch lines, it is a question to be
; seriously considered whether, this pol
icy should be continued or whether
onnd yya roads Shou16- he n-
structed and the products of farms
and passenger travel should not be-
handled by motor trucks and auto
mobiles to the. main line.
Taken alone and considered as, a
I unit, practically none of these small
i branch lines pay expenses. but as
gatherers of freight and passengers
to .ccrease density of traffic on the
main lines they are sources of profit.
"As, however, the traffic gathered
by them is turned over to the main
line with deficit attached. which has
TO be overcome during the main line
movement before any profit is made, 1T
would be a decided advantage if this
traffic could be delivered to the trunk
I, line by means of the motor truck,
tractor and automobile without this
| bill of expense attached"
Avoids One Handling.
| Noting the fact that handling
would thus be obviated since it is now
necessary to- truck farm products TO
the short line branch, then transfer
| them to the main line, Mr.. Morse con-
i tinued:
! Investigation of this subject may
! show the desirability as good roads
. are completed of the taking Up of
many branch line railroads and utfliz-
! ing the abandoned road bed for i'm
proved motor road, thus decreasing
| the expense of maintenance and opera
! ton of our railroads and giving in its
! place a well located motor road. Such
! a change would call for increased IA
! cflities at stations along the main line
! for passengers and for hauling
| freight, including storage, trackage.
! etc, but it would mean the concentra
| ton of supervision and labor, permit
! ting better housing and living condi-
/ tions for employees.
! Motor driven conveyances have grad
j uaHy been changing conditions Of
railroad transportation for the past
ten years, and now that the general
| study of transportation facilities is up
| for discussion, it should be taken into
careful consideration, and due weight
| given to it's influence on the econo-
mics of the situation
/ Mr. Morse closed his remarks with a
| Recommendation that each question
1 should be given individual study to
determine whether light rail or motor
truck haulage would be more eco
nomical.