Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-04
Washington Ticker
BY CLINTON COFFIN.
Associated Press Financial Writer.

Prospects for any early reshaping OF
the country'S railroad map or for any
early reconstruction of the rail corporate
structures under the principle of rail-
road consolidation have been perceptibly
on the wane during recent weeks. While
the dominant interests controlling the
Baltimore g. Ohio and Chesapeake 81
Ohio systems put forward last Spring
most serious proposals to the Interstate
Commerce Commission, looking to the
absorption by each Of these roads OF a
great amount of existing rail mileage
now in other hands, 1t has nov become
known that parties to the proposals
have been notified that the commission
cannot even give their plans a hearing
this year. 1t is also understood that
the Wabash Railroad plan, which out
lined an expansion noticeably conflict
ing with the C. a. o. and b. & o. pro-
posals, likewise cannot be heard.
In addition, 1t Is becoming rumored
that the chief Western consolidation
pending, by which the Northern Pacific,
Great Northern and Burlington Sys-
TENS, already linked in common par
lance as the Hill Lines" have sought
complete unif1cation, will not be de-
cided upon by the commission while
the present situation prevails. WASH
ington observers feel that the key to
the situation Is the desire of the COM
mission for some new re-expresSion of
public sentiment in statute before it Of
flcially sanctions more extensive merg-
ing OF the railroads than has ever been
accomplished In the past.
1t is also evident that the commission
Is shaping up move to let Congress
have full and fair chance in the next
year of two to give such an expression
The present law provides that the COM
mission q
for consolidation of all the roads of the
country into 19 or 20 systems, with the
idea OF maintaining competition rather
than creating regional systems. The
plan hasn't been made-the commission
has previously asked twice to be re-
lieved of the responsibility, but Con-
greSS hasn't done so, and now q plan
will be forthcoming within a few weeks.
Commissioner Porter of Iowa has been
most identified with such work, but the
diagram which will be ready in Deem
Der or January will be composite af-
fair, representing ideas of all the men
of long service on the commission.
Meanwhile, it is the best guess that
nothing Is going to be done to change
the present general rail organization.
That is the more truth in that the
rather prosperous state of railroads Is
being fully maintained. Trafnc fore
ton call for a volume OF freight buSl-
ness during the coming two months
which is more than 2 per cent OF the
big business last year in the same pc
riod, and the associations possibilities
for the opening of 1880. The most
competent judges see little chance OF
any slackening of rail traffic in the near
future.
we shall unquestionably realize the
estimated trafic for the balance OF
1929" said M. j. Gormley. manager OF
the rail- associations car service division,
which represents cooperation OF the
carriers in traffic matters. Rail trafnc
is so basic q matter that fluctuations OF
other business do not affect IT lmmeol-
ately in any case"
This evident rail prosperity is un-
questionably an element in the heSitS-
ton of the Federal authorities ABOUT
permitting any serious Innovations IN
the broad rail structure without clear
showing of advantage.
The Great Lakes coal trade, one of
the bigger factors in the oltumnouS
field, Is now winding up what appears
to be the best year of its recent history
in point of volume. Up to october 20
vessels at Lake Erie ports have loaded
33,115,1S2 tons of coal for carriage to
tie Northwest and ports In the upper
lake region. This compares with 49,
652,27S tons loaded during the same
period of 1928 and 29,834,42l tons for
the 1927 period.
This current expansion in one of the
most important coal markets is a mat
ter OF considerable qualification to the
mining industry, and is one of several
favorable showings which enabled
Harry L. Candy, executive secretary of
the National Coal Association, to de-
clare recently that the bituminous in
dustry is definitely on the upgrade. "
Coal men have been inclined to resent
what Mr.. Candy calls loose talk about
the bituminous industry which would
lead one to believe that every ton of
coal has been for some time produced
at q loss" particularly since changing
conditions have been bettering coal
operations notably for some months.
Tn fha aaAaA y0T IN ASCERTAIN inst Whak