New-York tribune., 1920-10-15

most destructive war IN history and on
no other industry has the toll OF war
fallen more heavily. The normal prog
ress in improvement work, such as
building additional main tracks, en-
lagging terminals and improving shops
rot only has been arrested so that in
dustrial development has gone ahead
and Improvement of the fixed property
of the railroads, but the condition Of
the railroad property generally Is not
so good as it was before the war. One
Of the first needs is the restoration
fully to prewar standard Of its fixed
property and equipment. Resumption
of the old policy Of continually improv-
ing the condition of the roadbed
tracks, bridges, terminals, etc.-and
reducing the grades and curvature
should follow as soon as funds arc
available, as should also the purchase
of additional modern freight locomo-
tives and additional cars as required.
This constant betterment of the lines
and improvement in motive power las
made it possibly, until 1917, constantly
to reduce freight rates in the face Of
increasing cost of labor and materials,
which entered into the manufacture Of
transportation.
New Mileage Needed
Aside from the needs on existing
lines the Northwest has one problem
peculiar to itself, viz: new mileage to
serve new territory. This section was
opened up by the great pioneer rail-
roads of the great pioneer railroad
builders. The policy Of that regime
was to send the railroad into new coun-
try ahead Of the settler. The latter
thus came to feel that, wherever he
located, he would be sure of railroad
service just SO soon as he needed it.
He was never disappointed, because
ahead of the growth of the country.
Now the conditions are reversed. Of
late years new construction has prac-
tically ceased The settler did not
realize this and he had the unques-
toned faith of his kind ins railroad
enterprise. He pushed ahead to occupy
undeveloped country, and waited con-
tidently for the carrier to come to him.
1t did not come, because financially il
could not. He is still waiting. but he
is near the end of his tether. One
thousand miles of new railroad should
be built in the next few years to serve
and develop territory already partially
settled. Such capital as is available
tain already established and guaranteed
railway service, and then to serve the
needs OF the new people in the new
territory.
The outlook for the future of the
railroads Of the Northwest should be
favorable. They are we'll built and
physically adequate to their present
transportation requirements. Their
country shows SO large a margin of
possible expansion that this alone is
guaranty for an indefinite time to
come. And now they are heartened bv
the beginning of q new era in which
they and the whole country may find
reason for a greater hope than has
visited 1t for generation.
AT last there is, on one side, a grave
consciousness among railroad people of
the great trust committed to them, and
the duties and responsibilities in
volved, and on the other side recog-
milton Of the value of the railroad as
a public servant, and of what the pub
lie owes to it. "Live and let live" is
good motto for both. The time should
come, must come, when each will re-
gard the other no longer with hate or
dlstrust, but with mutual confidence
and esteem that must have far conse-
quence, not only for the prosperity but
~ oSSuAA.y oii0 StdUllity VI tHe
Republic.
Improved Cooperation
One Of the paramount needs is to
maintain and improve this mutual un-
derstanding and cooperation The way
to that lies straight through a frank
and sincere acceptance on ali sides, by
railroad managements, by railroad en-
ployees and by the public authorities
that control, in the last analysis, rail-
road affairs of their individual and
their joint responsibility.
For this harmony" is ''le keynote.
good understanding seems to have
been reached between Congress, the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
.te railroad interests of the country
Whoever or whatever threatens to dis
turb that should be treated as COM
mon enemy. There is no problem Of
present or future that cannot be
worked out to the best solution by the
common participation Of the commits
sion and the railroads, in the spirit of
reasonable inquiry and just considera-
ton for the rights of all. Here lies
the hope not only of the railroads, not
merely of the Northwest, but the whole
country, which believes that the long
effort to deal with the railroad ques-
ton at last has promise of satisfac-
tory ending, based upon common ur-
dcrstandjng and united effort.
Copyright, 1920. by Tho Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.