The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-12-18
Is the Transportation
Outlook Improving7 7
(hanufac acsutsrs Record)

(Manufactussrs Record)
in the publication entitled Ameri-
can Railroads, issued by the Asocia-
ton Of Railway Executives, for Oc-
to6er Is, appears the following:
"Opcr ating Prospects Tor 1923.
There is every reason to expect in
1923 betterment of railroad operat-
ing conditions such as will enable the
railroads 10 r,eet satisfactorily all
traffic demands that are likely to-
ali Use.
Certainly there is nothing now in
sight 20 warrant an expectation OF
the peculiarly adverse conditions that
hare faced the railroads in 1921 and
1922"
This statement was published in
big, bold black type. We seriously
question it's accuracy or the wisdom
of it's publication. 1t states that there
IS nothing now in sight to warrant an
expectation of the peculiarly adverse
conditions that faced the railroads in
1921 and 1929. We would, on the con-
trary, say there is nothing now in
light to warrant any marked i'm
provement in the adverse conditions
that faced the railroads in 1921 and
1922.
Wherever one travels the unceasing
cry is for more cars. Manufacturers
cannot get their raw material except
after long delays, and when they have
made the finished product they cannot
ship it except under such adverse con-
ditions as almost to destroy all profit
on busiess. The orders which the
railroads have so far put in for new
locomotives and cars will not begin to
touch the needs of the country. De-
spite all that some railroad people
may say to the contrary conditions
are not improving, and the railroads
are not bcttering their roadbeds and
increasing their car supply to suf-
ficient extent to offer any hope of bet
ter conditions in 1928 than we now
have.
However vigorously this may be
contested by some railroad managers,
we believe that every shipper Of fac
tory or agricultural products will
agree with our statement in regard
70 the matter. Broadly stated, it may
be said that trains are late, locomo-
tives are breaking down while in op-
Grafton, and embargoes on freight are
constantly being issued, all because
arc unequal to the handling of the
enormous traffic that is available. This
condition will grow steadily worse in
stead of better unless the railroads
Legin a campaign of improvements
far beyond anything of which they
have as yet given any evidence what
ever as having in mind
We are aware of the fast that the
railroads say they cannot find the
money needed for these extensions,
ssgssIS ss e thisssas this money Is found the
and more acute, and the difficulty OF
finding money will grow steadily
G. reater. This is not a threat against
but merely prophecy OF
what will happen. If all car and To-
comotive shops in the country were
crowded to their utmost capacity, run
ming "a hours day, and every steel
rail mill was worked on the same
basis, they could not supply the cars
end locomotives and rails that are
needed TO meet the pressing conditions
existing on the railroads of the coun-
try, which will grow more prnomced
Gs business increases.
We wish that we could agree with
the view that operating prospects fol
1923 are brighter than for 1921 anc
1929, but we see no justification FOL
rolding out sucn hope based on any
thing that is now in sight.