Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-04-22
INEFFICIENT Rail MANAGEMENT
In AMERICA COSTS A BILLION
DOLLANS ANNUALLY, IS CHARGE
Union Labor Lays Data Before the Railroad
Labor Board Pointing Out Alleged Waste;
If this Were Eliminated 1t Would Be IN
necessary For the Roads to Reduce Wages
tBY THE ASSOCIATED pREss.l

/ The following tabulation repre-
sents those wastes estimated by the
unions witnesses and for which au-
thorities are quoted, giving specifi
/ cations and explanations as set
forth in the body of the exhibit:
| Il. undermining locomotives.
Gross reparabIe deficiencies in the
tractive power of the railways is
pointed out and it is shown that by
systematic application to the loco
motives Of demonstrated improve
lments such as superheaters, brick
Iarches, mechanical. stokers and
feed water heaters, there would re-
suit an annual saving of at least
1872, 100000,
%. Locomotive operation. The
magnitude of the railways coal bill
is considered and certain Of the
| larger wastes calculated, and it is
concluded that by use of better
methods of coal purchase, coal in
spection, careful receipt and eff
eient firing of the locomotives an
annual saving could be effected of
at least 50,000,000.
"3. Shop organization improve
IilltiIlS. llt oflNA anu dlIllOSI HILL GU
ible inadequacy and out of-date
equipment of the railway shops is
lreVieWed, the defenseless wastes
lconsidered, and it is conservatively
ESTIMATED that by proper shop or
lganizatiOn an annual saving could
be effected of at least S17,000,000.
"A. Power plant fuel saving.
The obsolete and fwasteful condi-
ton of the power plants in the rail
way shops Is considered and it IS
estimated that in this field the pos
| sible saving of fuel would by itself
lamount to an annual total of $40
600, O00.
IS. Water consumption savings.
The railroads expenditure N
maintenance of way and structure
is reviewed. the necessary wastes
noted, and it is estimated that cas-
| lily .attainable savings In the con-
sumption of water alone would
amount annually to $12,600,000.
g. Service of supply savings.
: The expenditure of the railways
for supplies has been inquired into
and the avoidable losses surveyed,
and it is estimated that the wastes
and abuses amount annually to not
less than S75,0OO,OOO -.
~. Shop cost accounting saw
| ings. Attention has been given TO
| the matter of uniform railway
statistics and the use of efficient
methods of cost accounting only,
an annual saving would be feasible
to the amount of $1O,900,000. .
-. Labor turnover savings The
| industrial losses due to unneces-
sary labor turnover and to made
quate training of personnel has
been reviewed, and it is estimated
that the unavoidable wastes Incl
dent to labor turnover alone
amounts to more than $40, 900.
80. Loss and damage savings.
Inquiry has been made into the
lamount of the annual loss and
| damage account of the railways,
and into the preventable causes of
such losses, and it is estimated that
an annual saving might be effect
ed to the amount of 100000, 1000.
Total. 1t will be noted that the
avoidable wastes here listed are
but partially represented in the ac-
Icompanying money estimates, new
ertheless, the sum of these incom-
plete figures represent an annual
unnecessary waste of S57S, 900 900.
Further Alleged Wastes.
Further alleged large-scale
wastes, losses and ineffiencies inI
the equipment and operation of
the railways, difficult of approx
mate estimate in dollars and cents,
are given in the exhibit as follows:
Il. Wastes due to remediable
defects in car equipment.
"2. Wastes due to defective
power equipment.