Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-06-04
DEFERRED WORK ADDS
TO RAILROADS. TASK
Large Capital Expenditures Be-
quired, Says Hlnes-lmpos.
sible to DO All New.

In order to keep pace with the
growth OF business and production in
this country and the demand for in.
creased transportation facilities an
enormous amount OF railroad work
must be done In the next few years
which win require the investment OF
billions OF dollars OF new money. Thls
Il essential not only to maintain the
railways at their normal high standard
Of service and aHiciency. but also 10
make up for ordinary expaAsien and
Improvement needs On existing linea
which were interrupted BY the war
and TO q large extent deferred alto-
gether.
Railroad managers realize that even
II the necessary new capital was avail
able II would be practically o physical
lmpossibillty fer the railroads to &C
compllsh any large part VI this de-
layed and accumulated werk auring
the present year. Consequently the
most vital needs OF the railroads win
receive flrst consideration In the Plana
for the immediate future wU that the
public demands In the months Of keavi-
est trafic may be served a. emciently
as possible.
Vast Amount 81 Werk T. De nens.
Walker ID. Hines, Director General
OF Railroads under government cen.
troll. emphasized this task facing the
railroads after their return 10 priVate
operation In a letter to Senator Albert
b. Cummins, chairman Of Senate later.
state Commerce Committee, and Req
resentative John ]. Esch, chairrnAM 81
the House Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce. Mr.. Macs pre-
sented this phase Of the railroad prsh-
lem to them In urRiRg the necessity
for pressing the Railroad Legislation
and to point out that delay woula "es-
riously impair the public service BY
virtually suspending improvements and
the acquisition Of equipment
I'm order to keep abreast " the
growth OF business II this couatFy,"
wrote Mr. Hines. AZ 10 Indispensable
that railroads should continue TO spnnd
large sums In the acquisition Of new
equipment, the enlargement ana uninca-
ton OF terminals and the c0nstructiea
Of additional and the enlargement Of
existing shops, engine houses, tuFn-
tables, etc, and In the carrying Ter
ward OF normal programs Tor the revi-
sion Of grades, construction Of adj
tional main line tracks. leager amd
more numerous passing tracks, etc.
"a vast amount Of wsrk new ~
r1alns 20 he dene,s he aaA@a, (which
the tntervenkion or The War has neeea.
sarlly delayed ans accumulated, ana
the resuit ls that during the year 1eaa
very large capital expenditures eushS
ts b. made 10 make Up fer the inter.
ruptlens Inevitably due 70 the war ans
to prepare the railroads e serve aas-
quately enc Increased traffic threuaheut
the country.
SIN the year or two prier to the be
ginning Of federal control this work
was largely arrested By the dificultlea
Of securing materials aud labor AID
also By the difficulty ef securing Rew
capital. During che year 1915 this
work waa largely restricted to thinga
which could be promptly done and
which would have q relation u win.
ninR the war and also restricted ~
the scarcity OF materials. The result
was that comprehensive programs feI
developing the railroads were largely
interrupted.
ApurIna the calendar year 1918 theFs
has ksen unaveldsbiy an aIn1est CEN
pIete stcppane Of all thsea matters -
cause Of the prospect Of early fsrnnlna
tlen Of federal eOntrei ana tFe result
Ing IndIspesitIon on the part Of een
srsss TO make appropriations