The Madison journal., 1920-03-27
RAILROADS
NEED CAPITAL
DEFERRED WORK ON THE RAJ
ROADS ADDS TO
THEIR TASK MNaA
Large Capital Expendi.:1. 49, - ~
Says Hines, ,Es EGsns1,1..- .n,.t. V\E4
t. n a scalds cuts. - SS6. n
lrkiy heals the

=
this country and the de.G OIL
creased transportation fac:
enormous amount Of railroad -
must be done In the next few
which will require the investmen,
billions OF dollars Of new money. Ta'. =.
In essential not only TO maintain the
railways at their normal high standard
Of service and efficiency, but also 10
make up for ordinary expansion an"
Improvement needs on existing line
which we're interrupted by the war
and To a large extent deferred alto
gether.
Railroad managers realize that even
II the necessary new capital was avail
able Il would be practically physicai
impossIbility for the railroads to ac-
complish any large part OF this de-
,aved and accumulated work during
the present year. Consequently the
most vital needs Of the railroads VIII
receive first consideration In the plans
for the Immediate future so that the
public demands In the months OF heavi'
est traffic may be served us efficiently
rs possible.
Vast Amount Of Work to BE Done.
Walker d. Hines, Director General
Of Railroads under government con-
| tro, emphaslzed this task facing the
| raI,roads after their return to private
| operatlon In a letter to Senator Albert
n Cummins, chairman Of Senate Inter-
state Commerce Committee, and Rep
resentative John J. Esch. chairman OF
the House Committee on Interstate ana
Foreign Commerce. Mr.. Hines pre-
sented this phase Of the railroad pron-
lem TO them In urging the necessity
for pressing the railroad legislation
and 10 point out that delay would Sc
riousiy impair the public service by
virtually suspending improvements and
the acquisition of equipment"
I'm order to keep abreast or tho
growth of business In this country"
wrote Mr. Hines, at Is indispensable
that railroads should continue to speno
large sums in the acquisition or new
equipment, the enlargement and uninca'
t,ou of terminals and the construction
4 NJ additional and the enlargement q
existing shops. engine houses, turn
tables. etc, and In the carrying for
ward OF normal programs for the revi
sion of grades, construction OF aooi
tjonal maiH line tracks, longer ane
more numerous passing tracks, etc.
"A vast amount Of work now ~
na,s. TO be done," he added, ">~n'e'
the Intervention Of the war has neees
..riIv DELAYED and accumulated, ant
the result 10 that during the year fs2'
very LARGE capital expenditures eveh
70 be made to make up fer the inter
ruptions inevitably dye to the war ant
TO prepare the railroads TO serve ade
uuateiy the Increased traffic throusnov
the country.
"In the year or two prior to the be
ginning Of federal control this wor
was largely arrested by the difacuitie
of securing materials and labor an
also by the difficulty Of securing ne'
capital. During the year 1918 thl
work was largely restricted 10 thins
which could be promptly dops IN
which would have . relation TO vii
ming the var and also restricted B
the scarcity sf materials The resu
was that comprehensive programs Il
developing the railroads. were isrgs'
interrupted.
~pur'ns the eaIsndss ysar fese ehs'
has been uAavsIdabty IN ainsSet 81
p,sts stsppaes Of all thsss nsatasrs ;
IT. eavss ss the prsspsot ~ early tssussa
tt~~ o. federal osntrsi and ths resw
'an Inc IndIspesisIen sW ths pars ~ g
sress . msks apersessaessaAs