Evening star., 1928-11-26

Electrification of railroads. especially
of the great trunk line terminals. has
become subject of major popular in
terest since the recent decision of the
Pennsylvania Railroad to electrify its
lines from New York to Delaware and
announcement of similar plan in the
East by the Reading Railroad.
Applauding the Pennsylvania prepa-
rations to spend $100,000,000 for work
covering 325 miles between New York
and Wilmington, Del. the Rochester
T1mes-Union records, as reasons for ac-
ton, greater economy of electric trac-
ton compared with steam, increasing
density of traffic and need for more
rapid movement of passengers and
freight, growth of the Southern pas
senger business, desirability of utiliza-
ton of electric power in connection
with terminals at Philadelphia and
Newark. desirability Of having loco
motive power that will meet the future
needs of the territory, and probability
that work can be done cheaper now
than In the future. Freight efficiency
will be doubled by the plan," says the
Times-Union. which believes that "some
Of these reasons apply to other rail-
roads which will now be impelled to
look over their electrification plans
again." and that this will apply par
ticularly to those roads that compete
with the Pennsylvania"
X X
Further significance is found by the
Chicago Daily News in the fact that
"the Reading Railroad has decided to
electrify its service within the Phila-
delphia metropolitan district" and that
paper holds that the Reading and the
Pennsylvania have dipped into the
future and realized the economies and
Improvements of service obtainable
through electrif1cation." On the Chi
cago situation, the Daily News COM
ments: MANY Chicagoans who know
how great is the benefit resulting from
the Illinois Central's electriflcation of
its great terminal are asking themselves
why other railroads that enter Chicago
continue to deny themselves and the
public similar advantages. What is the
matter with the railroad and business
executives of the great and growing
capital of the Middle West? Electrifi-
cation, along with its other advantages,
is one of the most effective permanent
remedies for the smoke evil, and 1t Is
sure to be applied in time to the varl-
Gus terminals in this city. The move
ment toward electrification cannot begin
too Soon."
THE railways have solid facts before
them. They can depend on an aug
mented income as a result of their in
vestment of millions" in the Judgment
of the Philadelphia Record, which sets
forth the Readings expected results:
THE lines first to be improved are those
used by thousands of citizens every day
in getting to and from their homes.
Better service will result, and the parts
of the city through which the trains are
to run will be relieved of the present
discomfort of noise and smoke. The
change will bring large areas now COM
paratively sparsely settled. much closer
to the center of the city. The announce
ment states that the new trains will
mean daily increase in service of
approximately IS per cent, and saving
of time over present schedules of more
than 20 per cent. Such changes will
inevitably extend the limits of the
metropolitan residential area"
X y y
In the discussion of the 500, 900. 900
cost for one road between New York and
Delaware. the San Francisco Chronicle
states: THE outlay is warranted. in the
judgment of the management. because
careful sllsseys, indicate enormous trAfhc