The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1920-04-02
DEFERRED WORK ADDS
TO RAILROADS TASK
Large Capital Expenditures Re.
quired, Says Hines-lmpos-
sibIe to Do All Now.

In order TO keep pace with the
growth of business and production in
this country and the demand for In
creased transportation facilities all
enormous amount OF railroad wOrG
must be done I'm the next few years
which will require the investment OF
billions OF dollars of new money. THIS
Is essential not only 10 maintain the
railways at their normal high standard
OF service and efficiency, but also 10
make up for ordinary expansion and
Improvement needs on existing lines
which were interrupted by the war
and TO q large extent deferred alto
gether
Railroad managers realize that even
IL the necessary new capital was avail
able II would be practically physical
impossibility for the railroads TO ac
complish any large part OF this de
layed and accumulated work during
the present year. Consequently the
most vital needs Of the railroads will
receive first consideration I'm the plans
for the immediate future so that the
public demands in the months OF heavi-
est traffic may be served as efficiently
as possible.
Vast Amount Of Work to Be Done.
Walker ID. Hines, Director General
OF Railroads under government con-
troll, emphasized this task facing the
railroads after their return 10 private
operation In letter to Senator Albert
T. Cummins, chairman Of Senate Inter
state Commerce Committee, and Rep
resentative John j. Esch, chairman of
the House Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce Mr. Hines pre-
sented this phase of the railroad prob
lem TO them I'm urging the necessity
for pressing the railroad legislation
and to point out that delay would "se
riously impair the public service by
virtually suspendlng improvements and
the acquisition of equipment"
"In order TO keep abreast of the
growth OF business in this country"
wrote Mr. Hines, "it is Indispensable
that railroads should continue to spend
large sums in the acquisition of new
equipment, the enlargement and unifica-
OF additional and the enlargement Of
existing shops, engine houses, turn
tables, ETC., and in the carrying for
ward OF normal programs for the revi-
sion of grades, construction of addi-
tional main line tracks, longer and
more numerous passing tracks, etc.
"A vast amount Of work now re-
l. IT.
the Intervention of the war has neces-
sariIy delayed and accumulated, and
the result Is that during the year 1920
very large capital expenditures ought
TO be made to make up for the inter
ruptions inevitably due to the war and
to prepare the railroads to serve ade-
quateIy the increased traffic throughout
the country.
"in the year or two prior TO the be-
ginning of federal control this work
was largely arrested by the difficulties
OF securing materials and labor and
also by the difficulty of securing new
capital. During the year 1918 this
work was largely restricted TO things
which could be promptly done and
which would have a relation TO win
ming the war and also restricted by
the scarcity Of materials. The result
was that comprehensive programs for
developing the railroads were largely
interrupted
During the calendar year 1919 there
has been unavoldabiy an almost CON-
pIete stoppase Of all these matters be-
cause Of the prospect Of early termina-
tion Of federal control and the result.
Ing indispe sition on the part Of Con
sress to make appropriations