The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-19
TRAFFIC MEN HEAR
UNIQUE ADDRESS.
BY {. R. BARHAM
Atlanta Visitor Gives Some
Interesting Data About
Railroads

Charles r. Barham, chairman of
the Southern Freight association OF
Atlanta, Monday gave to the Biz
mingham Traffic ana transportation
club some interesting facts about the
railroads of the United States The
occasion was the regular meeting of
the club in the private dining room
of the Hillman hotel, when 80 mem
bers and more than 80 lady guests
were present, l.. g. Scarboro, gen
eral agent of the A, B. 6; a. rail-
road. won the prize for calling the
names of the most members. The
Incidents. Attendance prize was
awarded to r. II. Rudolph general
agent of the Erie railroad.
In beginning his address Mr.. Bar
ham gave a comprehensive history
of the railroad development in the
last 80 years and based his predatory
remarks on the lines of the marvel
Gus development of the transporta-
ton system from absolutely nothing
30 years ago, and the nigh state of
efficiency of the transportation ma
chine today, embracing in this coun-
try over 100000 miles of main lines
with total trackage of 100000 miles,
developed not to serve country,
but to develop country to be
served"
He pointed out thar like all devel-
opments the every -day contact made
the railroad commonplace, an l
that the people themselves hardly
comprehend either the magnitude OF
the industry or the disastrous etfect
of radical change in management
and that Je present systems are
DEVELOPMENT Of private initiative,
and the question today is whether
private capital will be protected IN
the present plan Of Improvement and
extension, or whether the system
will stagnate and deteriorate under
an illogical government control.
Not Interested In Amount.
He also pointed out that industries
of all kinds were not interested in
the amount of the freight rate; their
only interest being in the compare :
tive rates in effect from competitive
districts.
He pointed out that there were
fewer mites now in the United States
than existed five years ago, and
there are but slightly more cars and
engines. although the country has
increased over Is per cent IN popula-
ton; that there is in the United
states one locality of over $4,000
square miles, where there is no rail
road. no church, no school houses, not
a doctor or dentist, and that there
are in states not further distant
than Kentucky and Mississippi dis
tricts where there are thousands OF
square miles without railroad; that
railroad development depends on the
private initiative and that 1t in turn
depends on the reasonable return on
the money invested: that the state or
community has not the power to
compel the investment of one dollar
of private funds in the railroad bust
ness.
Expect Big Membership.
President Lucas announced the
waving of initiation fee up to July
81. The present membership is lao,
and it is expected that this will be
doubled at the next meeting Presi-
dent Lucas has been appointed sec
rotary to the local regional advisory
board, which will take care of car
service problems in this district for
the general regional board lately To-
Gated in Atlanta. The resolution
submitted that is proposed to be
adopted by the Associated Traffic
clubs asking for the repeal of com
pulsory combination of railroads into
arbitrary systems. as contemplated
by the present law was passed until
next meeting.