The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-04-20
ROADS GUILTY OF WASTE.
Continued from Page L.

shop machinery, cost accounting and la
Dor turnover
COu Il not be estimated in terms of
money included variety of subjects
ranging from defective train equipment
and tracks through allegations of incom-
petent and extravagant management.
In the last class emphasis was laid
upon publicity and advertising and on
what the unions thought were unneceS-
Sary legal expenses Such expenditures,
it was claimed, have served to increase
and have been charged wrongfully to
operating costs.
1t was also charged that much of the
defective equipment which the manage
ments of the road are using as an argu-
ment for the need of decreased wage
costs, could have been avoided if the
roads had declared less liberal dividends
and used a proper proportion of their
earnings to establish requirements funds.
Allege Shocking Wastes.
The following tabulation represents
those wastes estimated by the unions
witnesses and for which authorities are
quoted, giving specifications and explain
ations as set forth in the body of the
exhibit:
"1-Modernizing locomotives Gross
rcparable deficiencies in the tractive
power of the railways is pointed out
and it is shown that by a systematic APP
strated improvements. such as superhcat-
erS, brick arches. mechanical stokers and
feed watcr-heatcrs, there would result an
annual saving of at least S2725OO, 900.
2-Locomotlve operation. The mag
nitUde of the railways coal bill is con
siderCd and certain of the larger wastes
calculated, and it IS concluded that by
use of better methods Of coal purchase,
coal inspection careful receipt and eff
cicnt firing Of the locomotives an annual
saving could be effected of at least 500,
NG.000.
"33-ShOp organization improvements.
The sad and almost incredible inadcquacy
and out-of-date equipment of the railway
shops is reviewed the defenselcss wastes
considered. and it is conScrvatiyely est
mated that by a proper shop Organiza-
ton an annual saving could be effected
of at least S1T000,0O0
"4-Powcr plant fuel saving. The OBJ
solcte and wasteful condition of the
power plants in the railway shops is con-
sIdered and it is estimated that in this
field the possible saving of fuel would.
by itself, amount TO an annual total Of
$4,000 00G.
"5LWater consumption savings The
railroads expenditure in maintenance of
way and structure is reviewed. the neces-
SaTyl wastes noted, and it is estimated
that easily attainable savingS in the CON
sumption Of water alone would amount
annually to $4,000 900.
'6-Service of supply savings. The
expenditure of the railways for supplies
has been inquired into and the avoidablc
losses surveyed, and it is estimated that
the wastes and abuses amount annually
TO not less than $75.00C. 600.
Shop cost accounting savings. At
tcntion has been given to the matter of
uniform railroad statistics and the use
of efficient methods of cost accounting
only, an annual saving would be feasible
to the amount of S109O0.00O.
'S-Lab0r turnover savings. The in
duStrial losses due to unnecessary labor
turnover and to inadequate training of
personnel has been reviewed. and it is
estimated that the avoidable wastes in
cidcnt to labor turnover alone amounts
to more than S40000.OOO.
Halt Billion Losses.
"9--Toss and damage savings. In
quiry has been made into the amount 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 effected
to the amount of 90.000.eOO.
"Total-It will be noted that the
avOidablc wastes here listed are but par
tally represented in the accompanying
money estimates. nevertheless the sum of
these incomplete figures represents an
annual unnecessary waste of S57S,0OO,-
O00."
Further alleged large-scale wastes.
losses and incficiencics in the equipment
and operation of the railways. difficult
Of approximate estimate i'm dollars and
cents arc oiypu in the pvbiI,5t