The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-01-13

portation gotten out of each car.
These records, Mr.. Cuyler says, were
not achieved by the railroads alone
but with the aid of shippers in un-
loading cars, and with the day and
night, rain or shine, work of hun
dreds Of thousands of employees
There has been a great deal of dis
cussion in the newspapers as to what
course the railroads will pursue in
their attempts to collect the six per
cent return pledged TO the railroads
by the transportation act, in view of
the fact that the earnings fall con
siderably short. Mr.. Cuyler in speak
ing for the railroads sets this question
at rest by the statement that the rail
way executives realize that they are
trustees Of a great public interest in
the reduction of railroad operating eX-
penses TO the lowest possible figure,
and every effort Will be made during
the coming year to accomplish this by
further economies and efficiency"
1t is a noteworthy achievement that
the increased average movement per
freight car has grown from 22.3 to
2S.6 miles, while the increased aver
age load per car has been brought
up from 283 to 80 tons. Mr.. Cuyler
states that there has been a sub.
stantial reduction in the number of
unseryiceable locomotives while the
accumulation of unmoyed freight ears,
which amounted to 1903 ,237 on March
/, was brought down to y ,991 on De
cember 3, of which only 1886 were de-
tanned because of the inability of the
cation Of box cars between the east
and the west furnished another record
Of efficiency for the railroads. In adj
ditiOn the lines have moved the third
highest coal production in the his
tory of the country, and have made
expenditures of over a half billion dol
lars in improving the maintenance Of
tracks, bridges, cars and locomotives;
in addition to which they have con
tracted for additions and betterments
and for new freight cars and locomO-
tives and for reconstruction work in
sums hitherto unknown in railroad
development.
Private ownership and operation of
the railroads as a measure of sound
public policy" said Mr.. Cuyler, in con-
Guiding his review, rests largely upon
its superior efficiency and economy. In
my judgment the American railroad
companies during the present year
have fully justified. and during the
coming year will make every effort
to continue to justify, the support and
confidence which public opinion, in
gratifying measure, has already &C,
corded them"
Whenever the army and navy ap-
preparations are asked for congress
is usually go staggered by the amounts
that it lends an attentive ear to argu,
ments fer disarmament. Senator
Hiram Johnson and Senator Borah,
the "irreconciliables," are among the
enthusiasts favoring an agreement be-
tween Great Britain, Japan and the
United States to limit the size of arma-
ments. At the same time the assem-
bly, of the league of nations at Geneva
has taken action recommending to
various governments the reduction of
ornaments.
Aside from all other considerations
involving ideals and idealism, especial
emphasis is laid. upon the great burden
of expense reflected in taxation
throughout the world. 1t is plain that
in Il W country the income taxes
would be reduced if disarmament
could be achieved, because foreign
countries would then be able to use
some of the money they are spending
for armament to pay America some
thing of their big war debt of SO, 900,
000, ZOO. Likewise, political economists
state that an improved condition in
European credit would follow, which
would make itself shown in the rate CT
exchange in the different countries,
thereby facilitating foreign trade. The
economic benefits of disarmaments are
indisputably innumerable. In the last
analysis Washington believes that if
the thought of Europe could be turned
from war and the people of those
countries could be induced to direct
all Of their energies to productive
purposes, that it would not be long
before civilization would get on its
feet again.
1t seem a little strange that after
the greatest war in history as well
as one of the greatest political up
heavals ever known in the United
States, that a new administration re-
moved but a few weeks from assum-
ing power, is still cropping the dark
for a policy to lessen warfare, that
will meet with hearty support in con-
gress.
The growth Of the telephone since