The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-10
Former Director General Says
Too Many Short Lines.
Consolidation Into Few Big
Systems Is Needed.
ALL FREIGHT CARS COMMON
Cars for Shipment Would Be
Owned by All Alike.
Hines Says Combination "PrOb-
ably VIII Have To Be Forced"

Washington, April 10.-Consolida-
ton of the nations whole network of
rail lines into a few large systems is
the ultimate solution of the railroad
problem. according to Walker ID.
Hines. former director general of rail-
roads.
Hines, in an exclusive interview, de-
clared that this consolidation should
come voluntarily on the part of the
railroads, but that eventually it will
probably have to be compulsory
He also strongly advocated the con-
solidation of terminals and the com
mon ownership of freight cars as
means of immediate relief for the
roads. He urged these steps for the
purpose of slashing operating costs
once in order to permit rate reduc-
tions."
The former director indicated that
the drastic reduction of expenses
would enable the roads to be run at
a profit during 1922 even with cuts
in passenger and freight rates. On
wages the director declined to express
an opinion.
1.-The railroad situation is more diff
ficult to appraise today than ever be
fore in history" he said. ''The roads
had no opportunity prior to federal
control to make vast profits out of
the war and no opportunity to build
up their reserves during federal con-
period of readjustment quite unpre-
pared. 1t will be a long road to re-
covery."
Must Have More Traffic
Hines declared that a fundamental
condition of railroad prosperity was
adequate traffic, which was not only
missing at the present time, but did
not appear imminent
Thruout the whole of last year the
freight traffic on all roads was from
80
week than in corresponding periods of
the preceding year. The average de-
crease was from IL to IA per cent"
he added.
Toward the close of the year freight
traffic dropped so low as to be less
than the traffic handled during the
great rail strike of 1919 or even dur
ing the post-arnistice period of 1913
All indications point to a slow recov-
cry, II any, during the coming year.
1t is reasonable 20 believe that there
will be no return to prosperity until
the volume of traffic is increased.
The imperative need at present is to
practice economy
Hines declared that great concern"
must be felt by the roads toward slash
ing operating costs because of the
"strong pressure brought to bear for
a reduction in. rates, He indicated
that the rate reductions would come
this year. but did not specify the
THE heavy increase in labor cost, -
he added, lis particularly burdensome
in the maintenance work and terminal
part of the transportation work 1t
seems to me that more progress should
be made in these branches for the
adoption of labor-saving methods"
The former director expressed a
doubt whether a maximum output
was being obtained in these two
branches for the expenditure made.
I believe that the present railroad
demands. in view of the in
creased cost of labor a concentration
of attention upon terminal and main
tenance work with an especial view
to increasing output and improving
results" he added