The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-20
HAS ATTN" ROAD
But FOrd's Railroad Should
Make Money, Officials Say.
Can Command Business From
All of the Big Trunk Lines.
PROPOSES TO REDUCE RATES
New Tariffs Apply to COmmOdi-
ties He Uses, 1t Is Charged.
Might Not Yet Make a Good
Director of All Roads.
PROPOSES TO REDUCE RATES

Railroad officials in Topeka say it is
a little too early ~ offer many predic-
lions on the outcome of Henry Ford
and his Detroit. Toledo & Ironton rail-
road, which he recently purchased. ex-
cept to state that 1t ought to make
some money even with freight charges
reduced.
NThey also say that even tho a man
can make a wonderful success at
manufacturing cheap automobiles, IL
does not follow that he would make
a good director general Of railroads
or a good president OF the United
States.
When Ford made his move to re-
duce freight rates on his newly &C
quired railroad. he so advertised him
self before the general public that
small portion of it, represented py
400 citizens in Michigan, petiuoneo
President Harding that the railroads
be turned over to him to operate, the
theory being that he would operate
them for the benefit OF the country
and not for personal gain.
Bought It for Himself.
It would be the most impossible
thing in the world. however, to con-
vince railroad men that Ford has not
been in the Tin Lizzie" business TO
make money for himself or that ne
did not buy his tin railroad for- tne
same purpose. They say that Fora
bought the road because he could use
It in his business.
1t is pointed out that Ford's pro
posal to reduce freight rates on ms
road includes lower tariff on sahu'
stone. gravel and brick which ne can
use in and around his own manufac-
turing plants. that these plants turn
ont enough products to keep the ROAD
busy. and because of the roads loca-
ton. this is what Ford intends to DO.
A railroad traffic official this week
made a sketch of the state OF ono
showing Ford's road running 1T
Michigan across Ohio to the SCUM
cast and all of the great trunk lines
that cross it.
After the sketch was completed the
officiaI declared It would be blan-
kety-blank fool who couldn't nldhe
money out of such an arranserneht.
All of the great trunk lines lncluo 1il
the New York Central. the Erie Ine
Wabash. the Pennsylvania, the Biz
-Four and the Baltimore & Ohio cross
the Detroit Toledo & Ironton.
The output of Ford's factories
alone is a big business for one ran
road" said the official VOW VIZ ~
his road, Ford. instead of shipping ms
stuff direct to New York. Chicago or
st. Louis, can haul it down his line as
far as he likes and deliver 1t TO one
OF the trunk lines. and he can force
the other roads to deliver him the
stuff he wants at points where HIS
road will get a whack at 1t.
Not the First to Try 1t.
on the other hand. if Henry does
not manage his railroad any better
than he did his peace ship expedition,
he can lose a wad of money 1t Is sald
that he is not the first shipper VINO
has interested himself financially in
railroad project and tried to induce
other roads to cut freight rates on the
commodities he buys and sells
In the meantime Ford's proposed
rates are the subject of a fight before
the Interstate commerce commission
and it is suggested that the commits
sion itself might suspend them pend
ing an investigation as to the erect
they would have on other rates and at
the same time inquire what palpable
benefit Ford. as a shipper might de-
rive from the proposed reduction.