The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-06-10
CO COCO G @ G @ G CO 9
6 WASHINGTON LETTER. g
G 00O COoC0 G G

yond control of the owners of railroad
property have absorbed an increasing
proportion of the total operating rev.
enue of the roads was shown in an
impressive manner by statistics pre-
scented by Mr.. Howard Elliott, Presi-
dent of the Northern Pacific Railway
Company, at the recent hearings be-
fore the Senate Committee on Inter-
state Commerce. Comparing the year
1919, which was under Government
operation, with 1920, which was chief
ly under private operation, Mr. Elliott
showed that the Northern Pacific Rail-
road increased the average miles per
freight car per day from 27.5 to 1928,
an increase of nearly SIX miles per
car per day. 1t was an increase of 20
peri cent. in the average number of
miles freight car travelled per day.
During the same period the ton
miles per car per day were increased
from 522 to 633, likewise an increase
Of approximately 20 per cent. This is
a very conclusive demonstration that
the railroad managers had so improv-
ed the organization and operation of
the roads that they were able to han
die a larger amount Of freight with the
same equipment. One would natural
ly expect that with this increased eff
ficiency under private management
that there would be a relative decrease
in the cost of operation.
This, however, was not the case,
The cost of handling freight was in
creased from 9.61 mills per ton mile,
in 1919, to 1898 mills In 1920, an in
crease Of nearly pc rcent. 1t is man
ifest that this discrepancy was due
entirely to the fact that the chief costs
of operation we're determined by Gov
eminent agencies which did not sur
render control over costs at the same
time that they surrendered control
over operation. So far as they were
permitted, under the law and regula-
lions, the railroad managers decreased
the costs of handling freight
A n increase of 20 per cent. in the
distance car travels per day was
marvellous accomplishment. 1t was an
accomplishment in the direction of
economy, but in spite of this improve
ment in operation the cost was in
creased due to the fact that the Gov
eminent had required the railroads to
continue to pay for service not rem
dered by employees and to pay wages
which could not be changed when
there we're changes in other lines OF
occupation.
With the Republican party in power
and a return to normally in trade ap-
parent come a reduction in imports
for the ten months ended April Both
of one billion dollars compared with
the similar period for 192O-or, in
value, $4,255, 100000 for the 1920
period and SO, 264, 100000 for the 1919
period Imports from Europe, the two
periods compared, decreased Is per
cent, from North America about per-
cent, from South America 81 per cent,
from Asia So per cent, from Africa %
per cent, while from Oceania there
was a slight increase. The industrial
slump is reflected in these decreased
importations from South America and
Asia, whence we purchase large guam
titles of raw materials, and that this
Slump will continue in vary degree
until the protective policy is restored
may be assumed as a matter Of coures,
since there is no war consumption to
energize the mills. Nor will our i'm
ports OF raw materials reach the
astonishing figures recorded during
the war for many years to come. How
ever it is to be hoped that our pur-
chases Of crude products from South
and Central America may. in so far