Evening star., 1923-04-22
PLANS OF THE RAILROADS
TO MEET TRAFFIC NEEDS
Despite Heavy Handicaps They Will Be
Generally Able to Take Care of
New Prosperity Freight.

that on the basis of those three
months, the railroads have shown
suits
Program for Coming Months.
The program adopted by the rail-
roads on which they are to work
during the next ten months contains
ten specific items. First among these
is: That by October l. 1923. when the
peak movement ordinarily begins.
cars awaiting repairs be reduced to
the normal basis Of per cent of thu
total equipment of the country. Last
year the percentage ran up to l5 per
cent, which means about 360 oNo
freight cars. This has now been re-
duced to between and 10 per cent
so that the railroads have put 1876 600
more cars to work. They now hope
10 add 10000 more serviceable cars
by October l.
roads propose that by October /, 1929
locomotives awaiting heavy repairs
pc reduced to the normal basis for
Ine entire country Of IL per cent
Ihat percentage got up to more than
81 during the strike 1t is now down
to "a per cent. That reduction rep
resents the 1900 locomotives which
nave now been made serviceable. So
that the railroads now plan to cut the
percentage from "A to 10 per cent
which VIII add about $500 more loco
motives to their serviceable euuip-
ment.
Other very important items in the
railroads program of Improvement
are: That all interested be impressed
win the necessity for loading all cars
70 maximum capacity in an effort to
orlns the average loading to thirty
try: for unloading cars promptly:
increa sing storage facilities where
necessary and practicable and proyid-
ing adequate siding capacity to facili-
tate loading and unloading, thereby
increasing the number of available
cars.
That every possible means b.
ADOPTED 70 increase the mileage per
car per day to an average of thirty
Tor the entire country, particular at
tention being given to prompt move
ment through terminals and yards
ana TO the issuance of embargoes
when necessary TO prevent conges-
tion.
Thus IL will be seen that the railroads
are making drive to increase the aver
aSe : ssa loading per car to thirty tons. In
tsz tsa 'ne g, average was twenty-seven
really more than 10 per cent. They are
also making a drive to increase the
number Of miles per freight car per da
to thirty. In 1922 the average was
tWenty-three and one-4lalf miles. In
and speeding up the cars they propose
TO get more intensive use of their
present equipment.
Do You get the picture Of the three
ways in which the railroads are striving
70 increase the serviceability OF thei,
plant: I) increasing car and locomo-
tive serviceability: (2) adding considar-
ably in number of new cars and loco
motives: (3) getting more intensive U.s.
of all their freight cars.
There is one important phase Of tha
SITUATION that must not be overlooked
The railroads cannot do it all They
must have the cooperation OF shjpperS
and the public. which in the past has
been most helpful in bringing abou,
heavier loading. prompt unloading and
increased mileage per car. When tn.
Shippers and the public realize whar
this means TO their own transportation
requirements II VIII help the railroads
wonderfully 70 meet their problems. An
example Of the uesired co-operatfon ha.
just been given by Secretary Work OF
the Interior Department. who has sent
instructions TO all bureaus and agencieS
OF that department TO ender every
assistance possible by immediate un-
iOduiliS Va SOdi anu lTtlRTI cars SO tnat
they may be returned promptly to taa
channels of traffic and the loading of all
cars to full capicity by agents OF the
Interior Department,
The railroads have seen what is com
ing and are making every effort to ge,
ready for it. Relatively they are IN
much better shape 10 meet this record
breaking traffic than they have been
since 1917.
a.Jin,'' IIjll'x Xixion
A letter written by James J. Hill o.
of the greatest railroad builders in thi-
country. on January "A. 1907, to the thcl,
Gov. John Johnson Of Minnesota, fits
the present situation as we'll as any
thing that could be written today. H.
pointed out that this country is growing
rapidly and that the railroads must con
tinue to expand their facilities and
equipment to meet the pyramiding de
mands OF commerce. 1t is interesting
to note that sixteen years ago he warned
that the railroads must spend a billion
dollars year to improve their equip
ment, which Is exactly the amount au-
thorized by the railroads for the next
year.
The public must stop to think thai
during twenty years the per capita ton
miles has been increased by the rail-
roads more than ITO per cent. During
the same twenty years the population
has increased 40 per cent. Each mem
Der of that 40 per cent has increased
the use of the railroads 10 per cent
more. The answer is that the railroad
freight and passenger traffic has trebled
in twenty years.
The public should realize that we are
living according to higher standards
each year. AS more men buy automo-
biles or pianos or enaneled sinks and
bath tubs it means increased work for
the railroads in hauling raw materials
to the factories. in delivering the I'm
ished product. and continually hauling
the materials which must keep these
new possessions in repair.
The country Is constantly growing
and at the same time the population,
always increasing in number. Is de-
manding as everyday facilities those
things which a few years ago would
have been classed as luxuries. All OF
this multiplies the work which the rail-
roads are called upon to perform. The
public in making these demands. which
often times it is beyond the physical
power OF the railroads to meet, must
be prepared to cooperate sincerely-in
their own interests.