Evening star., 1926-11-15
MEN AND MONEY
By NJ. S. Rukeyser.
Copyright. 1926.)

The spectacle of the bankrupt Chi
cago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Rail
road taking the initiative In adapting
some of the devices that make motor
ing smooth and comfortable to rail-
road service seems like g. fulf1llment
Of the biblical prophecy that the weak
shall lead the strong.
The St. Paul, which is still in re-
ceivership, will have the distinction
Of being the first railroad in the world
to run trains fully equipped with roller
bearings. Railroad men all over the
country have been intensely interest
ed in the plans and experiments.
which have been carried on without a
fanfare Of publicity. H. E' Byram,
former president and now receiver OF
the st. Paul, told me that shortly
after the first of the year the railroad
will install roller bearing devices on
all the coaches on its eight transcon-
tinental trains to Seattle and also on
two fast trains from Chicago to the
Twin Cities. This will involve the In
stallation of roller bearings on more
than 100 cars. 1t is understood that
the cost to equip q single car Is ap-
proximately $4,000.
The chief advantage Of the roller
bearing device. which is used on au-
tomobiles, as contrasted with the fr1c-
ton bearing still in use by the rail-
roads, is greater power and smootn-
ness in starting trains-in overcoming
the inertia after train has come to
a dead halt. Mr.. Byram says that
the new device makes 1t possible Tor
trains to burn fuels seven times more
efficiently In starting trains. although
after g. train is in motion the econo-
mics are much smaller.
Substantial Economies Seen.
"Our experiment thus far" declared
Mr.. Byran1, "have been sufficient to
convince us that substantial economies
can be made by the use of roller bear-
ings instead of the old-fashioned fric-
ton bearings. The roller bearings not
only eliminate the jerklness in starting
a train and therefore add enormously
to the convenience Of passenger travel,
but will also enable the railroad to
make substantial economies in the
use of fuel and also in maintenance
of equipment charges. The bearings
will be encased in a box containing
grease and will be automatically lubrl-
Gated. obviating the need OF constant
care and attention from maintenance
men.
'The st. Paul has been a pioneer in
the adoption Of numerous new meth
DDS, including electrification, for i'm
proving railroad service. The receiv-
ership has in no way affected the users
of the road, only the security holders.
In fact, we have been able to improve
the physical side of the railroad since
the receivership."
I asked Mr.. Byram whether the rol-
ler-bearing device would be extended
to freight cars. He replied that the
adaption would be scientifically feas-
ible, but, in view Of the fact that the
railroads interchange cars. no one
road would wish to go to the expense
Of installation unless other roads did.
The st. Paul, for example, keeps only
a few Of it's freight cars, the ore car
riers, on its own lines exclusively.
HI. HI. Timken Comments.
The st. Paul management has
worked out the roller bearing prob
lem in cooperation with the Timken
Roller Bearing Company. l asked II.
H. Timken, president Of the company,
to comment on the significance to his
company and to the railroads Of the
new experiments. He explained that
the company was not yet ready to
make a public statement, but said:
1--WE have been working for several
years on adapting Timken bearings
to railroads. We have made extensive
experiments with satisfactory results
It is known that other railroads.
including the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe, are beginning to expert
ment with roller bearings.
Queried concerning conditions In
his territory, Mr.. Byram said: "In
spite Of prospects Of some falling on
in gross earnings as a result Of the
crop failure in South Dakota. we have
been able this year. as revealed by
the statements Of the first nine
months, to show an improvement In
net earnings over last year. We &C.
complished this by reducing trans
portation expenses and maintenance
Of equipment charges. The latter
item has been reduced because We
have caught up. on our equipment
needs and there will be no need of
making extraordinary expenditures in
this direction any longer.
Did Not Share Prosperity.
1.-THE railroads Of the Northwest and
the whole Northwestern territory have
not shared in the prosperity Of the rest
Of the country. We do not believe.
however, that the country will con-
tinue to grow and develop elsewhere
while the Northwest lags behind. We