The Washington times., 1928-12-31
RAIL SITUATION
REVIEWED BY
ASHTON
By w. s. COUSINS

NEW YORK, Dec. 81 Q.N.S9.--
The American railroad systems have
spent $500. 900, 900 since 1920 for
new and improved equipment and
other facilities for the transportation
service, as the result of which op-
Grating efficiency has been increased
and higher grade of service rem
dered the shipping public.
This, in a nutshell, is the Aout-
standing claim of the railroads TO
the support and cooperation of the
American business and Industrial
interests, according to r.. H. Ash
ton, president OF the American Rail
way Association. Ashton told In
ternational News Service today that
the roads are making less than 5
per cent on their property invest
ment, and that it was only through
rigid economy and increasing eff
cheney that they were able in 1925
to approximate that rate.
''The financial situation OF the
railroads of the country constitutes
one of the most important problems
facing the carriers il they are to
continue to furnish adequate and
dependable transportation, Ashton
declared, This is a matter of ma
tional Importance, for the wefare OF
the shipper of this country, the gen
era1 public and the railroads de.
pend on the maintenance of ade-
quate transportation
Asks Cooperation
Ashton calls upon the American
public to study railroad problems and
to cooperate wherever possible for
their mutual benefit. The industrial
growth Of the country, he said, must
be predicated upon adequate, eff
cient and dependable transportation,
and the railroads problem must be
dealt with on the broadest economic
basis.
Gen. w. w. Atterbury, president
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, in reviewing the past years
accomplishments, puts I'm the fore
front the co-ordinating of rail, high
way and air transportation in the in
terests OF the public service.
During the past year. said Cen
eral Atterbury, the railroads have
felt that they have received such
large measure Of public support that
projects of expansion and develop
ment could be entered into with
more than ordinary confidence"
The head of the Pennsylvania s
vast transportation system predicted
that within a year the rail-air serv-
ice across the continent will be in
augurated. Progress is being made
in co.ordinating bus, track and con-
tainer car service, and through these
important channels to extend service
over a wider area.
More careful and extensive re-
search than ever before is going on
concerning the future problems of
steel rails construction, road main
tenance, the design of motive power
and equipment generally, as well as
the arranging of terminals. yards.
ETC.. and in developing improved
operation and economy" said Gen.
eral Atterbury. Loyal co-opera ton
of the working forces and intelli-
gent public support, he declared,
will push the railroads rapidly
ahead in 1929.
Huge Sums Spent
Increasing purchasing power of
~ al &C. bCNlC4 lINllS
standards and the appreciation of
the liberal education which travel
affords. are cited by Patrick f.
Crowley, president of the New York
Central lines, as the principal fac
tors making for increased railroad
business.
During the past year" said
Crowley, ''the New York Central
lines spent for additions and bet
termenFs, exclusive of equipment.
upwards of $50, 900, 900. and will
spend much more during the coming
year for the same character of
work. Other roads are spending in
the same ratio and will undoubtedly
continue to do so. as far as they
are financially able.
The ability to continue making
large expenditures for improve.
ments and to keep up the present
high standards of service depends
upon adequate revenue and that in
turn depends upon the maintenance
OF the proper rate structure. Should
rates be reduced. both the gross
and the net revenue of the rail.
roads would fall. necessitating re.
trenchment in various directions
with a consequent curtailment of |
service. | am hopeful that the