Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-31
HOLDS REIMBURSEMENT NEEDED IN COTTON

five years ending with June 80. 1907
the number in service increased over
10000. In the next 1--WE years Il In
creased less than 10000; in the four
and one-half years ended December
81. 1916. il increased only $4,000; and
III the five years ended with 1927 the
number of freight cars in service
actually declined 1881. The cars re-
tired were constantly replaced with
ears OF large: capacity and the in
"reaSes in the total capacity OF the
freight cars in service were as fol-
lows: five .cars ended with 1907.
23.o0O,O 00 tons: five years ended wit
1912. lG0o0,000 tons: four and one
half years ended with 1916. 1900
zoe tons; i've years cnGcd with 1921.
| 3.jOO.0O0 tons
Comparison Of the fgui ) for the
TWO nrc-ycar periods farthcst apart
shows that the increase in the total
! tractive power of locomotives was
almost co per cent less. and the in,
crease in the total capacity OF
freight cars 81 per cent less in the
| hNc years ended with 1921 than in
the five years ended with 1907 Prob
ably these statistics afford as good
a measure as could lie given Of the
decline in the expansion of the
railways which has occurred
Need for Transportation.
The ears ana locomotives built in
recent years have been uf increasing
capacity and there has been greater
chicichIy i'll handling. Making fun
allowances for this. however, il is
very evident that transportation fla
entities have OF kept pace with the
growth OF the country. The rail-
! roads have been ovcrrcgulatcd and
nave not het1 III position II earn
or borrow the funds necessary to
Keep their development up with the
expansion OF ether industries and
the country generally.
Even under the most favorable con-
dit!ons it is going to take several
| years and an enormous amount of
| money Tor the carriers to catch up
with the growth OF the country and
pht themselves in position to furn
/ lsh adequate transportation facilities
| The present shortage represents an
| accumulation over period Of ten or
/ iiftecn years of excessive regulation
! ana restriction. In addition the situ-
I alton has been temporarily aEgra :
| waited 10y the strikes OF the coal
Z miners and tn, railroad shopmen.
Demand for transporratica. In the
meantime. is S;iil further increasing.
ana there is very serious comnlaint
/ particularly from the agricultural
/ districts. Of loss OF markets and
I crops due IL the inability of IN. rail
| roads I" handle shipments Unless
| inc pnblic can he brought To an nm
outstanding Of the real facts of IN,
situation. the present Unsatisfactory.
| transportation conditions are Liable
l" nm" expression in hasty ana i'll
ADVISED legislation in the coming scs
sion Of Congress
Th"re is a good deal of talk abou,
| tower freight rates on farm producers
James -. Howard, president of th.
American Farm Bureau Fc,Icr,,in,
mas been quoted as stating that "thr
'"'ai Outlay OF tho farmer for freight
'r'PSp"rtation is not more than :
hcf cent OF his expenditures As
Z Stunning TINS iiSurc 10 he correct al
though II is believed 70 be him :,
per cent rcdurt!on ia freight rates
would only he Il fraction OF ucr CON,
OF TN" farmers budget
-Nhd yet "a cut OF this size ,,i,-h,
prove disastrous to the railroads nm
'.sS 'here were compcnSating in
t'eASes IN rates on other comment
What the farmer needs Is h.,,or
.- ''' ms products and lower
1"'i"rF involves the foreign si,r,,i,r
and The latter is largely controli.d ~ ,,''
E"S'S '"r I'll" things he buys Thc
.n"oF costs. 1t * difficult to SEQ bnv.
'"''e can be any material d.crn,s,
wages without increased s,innI,
i"n"T' and this brings ia The I'M,
'"'sTa'!on question.
iiusS Year Ahead.
what the farmers and tho u.,,o,o
.ouhtry really need is no, I,,
'h"t rates, but better transpor,,-
non facilities. and these are nnIv
nNHS'"'c ~ Inc railroads are allow,l
Shiiicient return on the in
capital ""u'''o''i
n"G.hg The period OF liquidation in
1901, which proved 50 disastrous ~
many industries, there were 'comn,r,
'N''E ''" failures among tn. railway
equipment ana supply componi.s
ms vas dre no doubt largely To ,ha
~ mat there had been no over
'Nrahs'"n during the war period aud
'""t Ia" character OF the busincs., is
Sut" that II Is not necessary or nos
S'"!e TO carry large Inventories: nc
'u'c' materials can be hough, only
"l|'I orders arc taken The indus,r,
a. whole. therefore, is in sourJ
'"hH!tiom. and while it's capacity has
'"t b'"h wei occupied for several
ears past, the plants have been
''"'h 'a.hcd ana can bc rcorSauizcd in
"a comparatively Shor, tim. to take
car" OF even the lars. volume of
husincss which is bound to come
sooner or later
Assuming, 80 We believe. that in
IN" "nd ia" public and Congress will
a'aI lairly with the railroads, there
IS sufficient business ahead OF the
railway equipment and supply com
p"ni"s 30 keep them well occupied
for several years.
Copyright, 1922. by y Y. Evening
Post, lnc)
nDnEDC nnn nInn