The Washington times., 1921-10-23

ity to gain a victory that would have
greatly increased their prestige anC
put their opponents in a hole.
All they needed to do was to say
to the Pennsylvania and the Erie
You are refusing to accept the
orders issued by the properly con
stituted governmental authority. We
will strike against you unless you
do accept the findings of the board
II the Government will not or can.
not enforce its recommendations, we
VIII enforce them by economic pres.
sure"
The Proper Move.
1t Is obvious that with one step they
would have put the balky roads in
wrong and would have put themselves
In particularly strong position. The
price they would have had to pay was
obedience on their part also, but that
price will have to pay anyway.
If they strike they will lost. The
increased use of the automobile will
make II easier to deliver food and
the public will be almost solid against
the strikers IL they go out without in
dlcatlng a willingness on their part to
submit to governmental findings.
In Congressional circles 1t is thought
that there will be a compromise in
volying the railroad funding plan. If
the roads obey the wage board; IT, in
addition, 1t Is agreed that agricultural
rates are to go down Immediately,
then Congress will surely pass the bill
making the railroads what amounts
to a loan Of half a billion dollars.
Both Sides Can Win.
II fbic 18th ulaox -
NIT to the Wage Board, If agricultural
freight rates go down and il the half
billion loan is made-then each side
will be able to boast ii came out cred.
itably from the scrimmage.
l have discussed the disastrous ef-
feet on present transportation of the
long and short.haul policies under
which the railroad managers built up
this country. A smaller illustration
Of their lack of foresight may be
given now.
James j. Hill was a great railroad
man. When he decided to scrap the
light engines and cars of his time he
was right for his particular roads.
But he was Immediately initiated by
other managers all over the country
without any study whatever.
These heavier engines. heavier cars,
longer trains meant new road beds,
new bridges, more expensive equip
ment Of every kind. This heavier ex.
pense was brought about with no
study of future tendencies and stands
rs a constant element of cost today.
Motors and Canals Complete.
Now the light motor truck comes
along and takes away another profit
able branch of trade from the rail
roads. 1t is customary to estimate
that the motor can compete success
fully against the railroad to a dis
lance of fifty miles.
But an expert investigation has just
been made In Chicago, resulting in
the calculation that as rates are now
the motor truck can compete to a dis
lance of 1875 miles.
When the country was being built
up. and costs were low. the only prob
EN- was to get enough traffic. AS the
traffic increased, great melons were
cut, and the managers continued to
.hink in terms of increased traffic.
They never realized that the increase
n traffic might be the thing that
would break them down.
Increased costs, water competition
md motor competition have caught
.hese men withou a plan. Their whole
dea has broken down. Unless they
,an do an entirely new kind of think
ng, traffic by rail will play a rapidly
essening part in transportation. 1t
will go down as water is revived and
Is gasoline exDands,