The Washington herald., 1920-10-29
ROADS STEADY
RETURN NOTED
a
General Betterment of Conditions
4 Laid to Increased Efficiency Of
Private Management.
NEW RATES RESPONSIBLE
NEW RATES RESPONSIBLE
Parmelee, of Economic Bureau, Pre-
diets Expedient Readjustment Of
Financial Status.

Railroad officials see in the ope-
rating reports of the railroads since
the return of the properties TO pri-
yate management, a beginning OF
the gradual return of the companies
to prosperity. With the rehablllta-
tion of railroad finances through In
creases in transportation rates, the
acquisition of new equipment, and
resultantly a nearer approach TO
meeting the country's transportation
requirements. officials yesterday pre-
dicted gradual improvement In
railroad conditions.
ParmeIee's Opinion
Julius H. Parmelee, director of the
Bureau OF Railway Economics, Is of
the opinion that with their financial
status adjusting itself, with their
forces on a higher wage level, and
other stricter accountability for per-
sonal loyalty and efficiency, with
their efforts to enlarge the equip
ment and other facilities, and with
their efficiency drive showing re-
suits, the American railway system
. may definitely be regarded as hav-
ing passed the angle at the foot OF
the hill and having started upward
The record" declared Mr.. Parme-
lee, referring to transportation of
increased traffic by the railroads, lis
a mixed one, but shows distinct and
favorable results from the drive for
more transportation and offers a ba-
sis for the statement that the rail-
ways ara indeed, gradually coming
back"
While reliable indications as yet
have not'become available, to form
an idea as to the increases in rev.
enUes produced by the increased
rates. railroad officials are of the
opinion that the increases in rev.
enues r'Il be approximately as
great as calculated by the Inter
state Commerce Commission in
granting the advance in rates. Not
until the operating reports OF the
various railroads for September
have been computed will 1t be pos
sible to determine whether addi-
tiOnal financial aid is needed by the
railroads to put them upon a profit
able basis, il was said:
The only real danger of a differ
ence between the actual increase in
revenues and the estimates used in
authorizing advanced transportation
rates, officials said. is that of the
refusal # the State railway COM
mission to permit increases in in
trastatt. rates to the level of inter
state rates. Unless this addition is
made 4 the companies revenues, as
eNpccts by the /. c. c. when in
terstate rates were advanced, it was
said. it is possible that another ap-
peal by the railroads for further
rate increases may be forced by in
adequate revenues.
Rapid and gratifying improvement
in the handing of freight by the
railroads Of the country is noted
in j statement issued yesterday BY
the car service division of the Amer
lean Railway Association here. The
congestion which marked the open,
ing of the present year has about
disappeared. the division finds, and
the prospects for a continuation oil
the Improvement is fiattering.
\. Robert Elmore and Harry r
Duryee. former members Of the
bankrupt brokerage firm of Moor.
head and Elmore. 1416 H stree
northwest. yesterday submitted Il
an examination in bankruptcy be-
fore Ralph d. Quinter, lawyer. and
referee in bankruptcy, in the lat
teT's Office, Columbia Building, All
Fifth street northwest.
Messs. ElmOre and Duryee de.
scribed in detail their methods o.
securing business and how trans
acted. etc. Another meeting wa!
called to be held on November l.
at Mr.. Quinter's offices, when tn,
examination of the partners will b,
continued.