The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-01-31
HELP MAIL LINES
BY WATER ROUTE
Advocated by Chairman Of the
Southern Pacific
ATTITUDE OF THE EXECUTIVES
julius Kruttschnitt Takes Decided
Stand Against Standardization
Of Equipment For All
Roads.

"a
Washington Use of water routes
to relieve crowded railroad Lines, con-
solidation of ticket offices, unifcation
Of terminals and pooling of repair
shops were among the wartime re-
forms instituted by the Railroad Ad-
ministration Endorsed as worthy of
continuation by Julius Kruttschnitt,
chairman of the Southern Pacific, in
testimony before the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee. Mr.. Kruttsch-
nitt appeared in support of the rail-
road legislation proposed by the as
sociatfon of railway executives and
was the first of several prominent rail
road officials whom the committee
plans to hear.
Standardization of equipment for all
railroads under federal control pro-
posed by the Railroad Administration
was said by Mr.. Kruttschnitt to be
inadyisable.
Standardization of locomotives is
unwise and unnecessary" he said.
ITO obtain maximum efficiency of a
locomotive and corresponding mini
mum of cost of transportation de-
mands close study of the alignment
and grade systems, the nature of fuel,
strength of bridges, weight of rail,
length Of turntables, depth OF round
houses and lengths of freight passing
sidings on the line on which they are
to be operated. AS these features are
different for each line no locomotive
can be designed to serve all lines
with maximum efficiency.
The Standardization of passenger
equipment is not necessary as it sell
doms leaves the rails of the owner
Standardization of certain classes of
freight cars is desirable, but should
not be obtained at a sacrifice of trans
portation efficiency Of the owning line
by forcing it to use car unsuitable
for its traffic"
The short-routing of traffic, Mr..
Kruttschnitt said, had not resulted in
as large benefits as had been claimed
"The benefit Of the practice. which
deprives the shipper. of choice of
routes and competitive facilities and
service, is very much exaggerated" he
said. THE director general says that
| during year of federal control 16,-
| ,633 car miles have been saved in
the eastern and northwestern regions
alone, which is only two-tenths of one
| per cent. of the total freight car miles
run in these regions. In recommend
| ing the elimination of circuitous routes
the interests and conveniences of the
public served by them do not seem to
have been considered"
"Profiting by experience acquired
under both private and government
operation the carriers earnestly desire
| to provide better system of operation
by combining the initiative and bene-
| fetal features of competition inherent
in private ownership with the benefits
developed during operation by the gov
eminent unhampered by legal re-
strictions."
Replying to Chairman Smith. Mr..
Kruttschnitt said greater efficiency
had been obtained by the railroads
under private ownership than under
government control and that the car
riers did not want the equipment or
dered by the Railroad Administration.
The administration was asked to can.
eel these contracts, he said, but re-
fused.