Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-12
ASKED
| AS TO RAILWAYS
Less Satisfactory Service
Ahead, Mr.. Hines Tells
Press Club.

Urging patience on the part OF the
public with the transportation serv-
| ice. which for months to come Will pc
| less satisfactory" than during FED
eral control, Director General Walker
D. Hines delivered what he termed MS
| 'valedictory comments" on the gen
eral railroad situation before the Ma
tional Press Club last mig hit. He coun-
seled cooperation by the corporate
owners and labor. Without these. ne
said. the prospect OF success1ui
! restoration of adequate service was
materially lessened.
| Mr.. Hines plans to retire as director
general next week, and therefore, ne
degree of detachment" with respect to
| railroad problems.
Billion Needed Annually.
The principal problem is the broad
question of financing, Mr.. Hines said.
He estimated the annual needs of the
roads "conservatively" at $1,OOO,O00:-
600 for equipment, extension OF facil1.
ties and the general rehabilitation Of
| the properties.
Need Of a rate structure which
would put the roads on self-sustain-
ing basis was described by the di-
rector general as OF supreme im-
portance."
With an enormous volume of bust
ness being insistently offered for
transportation" Mr.. Hines continued;
with a long suspension of the nor
NAL increase in facilities and equip
ment; with continued hesitation in
making beginnings in that direction,
and with a breaking of to consider
able extent of unified practices which
prevailed during federal control, the
public must be prepared for unsatis-
factory service. l strongly advise the
exercise of patience and good temper
in putting up with a service that. es-
n " c,1rod hV the volume NJ
freight traffic moved during periods
of heavy demand. is and promises to
continue for some months to be less
satisfactory than was rendered during
federal control.
Hard for Outsider to Understand.
'"The man not intimately acquainted
with railroad affairs finds it difficult
to understand the magnitude and
pressing character Of the demands
for additional capital expenditure.
Additional equipment alone calls for
perhaps $600.000,000 per year. In adj
dition there is on nearly all railroads
need for great enlargement of ter
minals. generally in costly localities;
modernization Of shops and engine
houses. and construction Of additional
facilities. There are demands also
for additional trackage, construction
of heavier bridges to admit OF the
use of heavier power. the reduction
VI STdueS anu CURVES duu IiC
ton of safety devices and other
remedial construction.
mo scheme of railroad manage
ment and regulation can permanently
succeed unless it is able to draw
from some source the capital neces-
sary to make these expenditures" In
discussing the new transportation
act, Mr.. Hines expressed the opinion
that there could not be "a successful
permanent development Of the theory
Of private management Of the roads
|of this country without thorough
going and far-reachng consolidation
into a few large systems"
The new law provides for voluntary
consolidation. but Mr.. Hines argued
that substantial results could not be
accomplished in the absence of fur
Their legislative provisions which eth
er compel consolidation or offer in
ducements that will insure voluntary
unification. IF we are to avoid gov
eminent ownership"