The daily morning oasis., 1920-04-06
DEFERRED WORK ADDS
To RAILROADS. TASK
Large Capital Expenditures Re-
quired, Says Hines-Impes-
sible to Do All Now.

In order to keep pace with the
growth Of business and production In
this country and the demand fer in.
creased transportation facilities m
enormous amount Of railroad worn
must be done in the next few years
which will require the investment o1
billions Of dollars Of new money. This
is essential not only to maintain ths
railways at their normal high standard
Of service and efficiency, but also to
make up for ordinary expansion and
Improvement needs on existing lines
which were interrupted by the war
and to a large extent deferred alts-
gether.
Railroad managers realize that even
If the necessary new capital was avail
able it would be practically a physical
impossibility for the railroads to ae-
cOmplish any large part of this de-
layed 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 50 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 D. Hines, Director General
Of Railroads under government cen
troll, emphasized this task facing the
railroads after their return to private
operation in letter to Senator Albert
B. Cummins, chairman Of Senate Inter
state Commerce Committee, and Nep-
resentative John J. Esch, chairman u
the House Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce. Mr.. Hines prs-
sented this phase of the railroad preb-
lem to them in urging the necessity
for pressing the railroad legislation
and to point out that delay would "se.
riously impair the public service by
virtually suspending improvements and
the acquisition Of equipment"
"In order to keep abreast Of the
growth Of business in. this country"
wrote Mr. Hines, 1T is indispensable
that railroads should continue to spend
large sums in the acquisition Of new
equipment, the enlargement and unificas
ton Of terminals and the construction
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 add.
tional main line tracks, longer and
more numerous passing tracks, etc.
"a vast amount Of work now re-
mains to be done," he added, (which
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.
ruptlons 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 1918 there |
has been unavoidabIy an almost com.
elete stoppage Of all these matters be.
cause of the prospect Of early termIna.
ion Of federal control and the result
ing indispcsitIon on the part Of Cen.
1ress to make appropriations"