The Washington times., 1922-12-27
j, s. RAILROADS
NOW NEARLY
NORMAL
President Rsa Of Pennsylvania
Says Roads Face Big
Difficulties.

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-Railroad
traffic in the United States Is near
to the level Of high records. and
congestion has created a serious
situation, according to Samuel Rea,
president of the Pennsylvania Rail
road System, who made public
New Years statement here today.
"The railroads Of the United
States, at the close Of an eventful
year. face An army Of unusual and.
IN some respects, unprecedented dit.
rculties" he said. 1T Is important
at the facts Of the situation be
thoroughly grasped by shippers,
travellers and the public generally.
Since the latter part OF 1921
there has been a reversal OF bust
ness conditions in America. and
with all the hard knocks 1t is
change for the better. From ex-
treme dullness we have rapidly ad.
vanced to a point where railroad
traffic is close to record levels.
SITUATION DIFFICULT.
ITO handle that rush Of traffic
is more difficult now than during
the war. when individual conviences
and advantage were patriotica'ly
sacrificed. Much congestion exists,
which ! trust will be short lived,
and many emergency measures are
being used to relieve the situation.
; That they are accomplishing re-
suits is indicated by the fact that
the freight car shortage. though
/ continuing to be serious, has been
reduced in the last few weeks"
According to Rea. the immediate
cause of congestion has been:
I. Resumption Of coal mining AZ.
ter the suspension Of the spring
and summer.
9 The flood Of general business.
partly to restore long existing short
ages due to the war and partly
coming from revival in lines III
| trade curtailed by the coal strike.
3.-The enormous crops Of the
nresent year. which in many cases
break all previous records.
4-~Inability OF the railroads dur.
! ing the depression I'm 1921 to earn
enough to maintain all cars and
| engines.
5-The general railroad shopmen's
strike of last summer.
"You can not damn the current
| Of millions OF tons OF coal and
! crops and industrial output for
| months" continued Rea. deal with
| the bad condition equipment fol.
! lowing the release OF the railroads
| from Federal control, and the poor
earnings Of 1921 and go through
shopmen's strike. and still expect
| railroad service TO be satisfactory,
although railroad men are strug'
! Cling to make II so.
I Moreover, other causes. more
deeply rooted and dangerous. have
helped to produce the present un-
desirable conditions. Among the
most important of these may be
mentioned the long series OF point
ical acts on railroads, restrictive
and repressive regulation by FED
eral and State bodies. constant pres
;, sure for reduced rates and the rum
ously low investment returns
allowed the railroads for over
dozen years.
"It is of course idle to waste time
on mere complaint: that does not
help us or the public so we are
endeavoring to give the best pos:
sible service, improve facilities ana
order new equipment, meanwhile
pinning our faith upon an enlight'
ened public sentiment to lesson the
| burdens under which progressive
railroad management struggles.
1--WE must not blink at facts
1--WE must get more sound think
ing, prudence in legislative action
and public cooperation as well as
personal initiative. to remedy the
situation. We must adopt a fair
national transportation policy. we
must build up and not break down.
THE country can not continue
prosperous unless the railroads are
prosperous. - ,.
Prosperity" he concluded, can
be assured If railroads are en-
couraged to greater initiative IN
carving on their work. II they are
allowed to earn and pay fair
return to those who are willing
! to buy and hold railroad bonds
and stocks, and II they have a
margin of surplus as a credit basis
to expand their facilities ana equip.
ment and to protect them against
| Y...o. dopresSiOns and emerRen-