Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05
RAILROAD STATUS
IS DECLARED GOOD
Few Companies Need Help,
According to Statement
of |. C. C. Official.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

special Dispatch to The Star,
NEW YORK, January 4.-Although
two weeks have elapsed since the
publication of the Interstate Commerce
Commissions plan of railroad CONSOLE
dation, no oficial moves have yet been
made by executives of the roads around
which the 10 American groups center
in the way of registering their ap-
proval or disapproval of it.
1t is expected. however. that shortly
the Baltimore & Ohio and the Nickle
Plate interests will confer on the plan,
which favored both to a greater ex-
tent than others in their own territory
and followed out lines along which they
have for some time been directing their
energies.
Indifference Noted.
Outside of railroad circles there is a
significant indifference to the general
subject of railroad consultations. This
is not strange in view of the fact that
leading members of the Interstate Com
merce Commission profess to see little
value in it from the standpoint of
economy and from that of rendering
greater service to the public Many
railroad executives in private con-
verSation frankly state that they would
prefer to maintain their present status
rather than to be linked up with some
other roads which they do not feel
mt in. with. systems now successfully
administered.
In the attention that has been
directed to the merger aspects of the
Interstate Commerce plan, the strong
commentator by the commission of
existing railroad credit and transpor-
tation status has been overlooked. To
railroad stockholders this should be
extremely satisfactory On this sub
ject Commissioner Eastman in his con-
curing opinion said:
so far as service, operating eff
cheney in general and ability to finance
on reasonable terms are concerned. the
status of the railroads has been i'm
proving rapidly and steadily during
the past few years and now appears
to be better than ever before. This
Improvement has extended to the So
called weak lines
McManamy's Statement.
Commissioner McManamy went even
further IN boosting the condition of the
roads. This is what he said:
Never have the railroads collectively
or singly been in as good condition
physically and financially as they are
at present. The weak lines. that is,
those which actually need help, can be
counted on the fingers of one hand.
Equipment Is ample and our inspec-
lions show it to be in better condition
than ever before and improvements
are going steadily forward. orders
for new material and equipment are
suficient to cover anticipated needs.
There has been no car shortage for
more than five years Net ton miles
per mile OF road per day, gross and
net train loads, gross ton miles per
train hour, net ton miles per car day,
cars per train and other operating
records by which efficiency is measured
are all better than ever before
recorded"
No Wall Street bull on railroad stocks
could have listed a stronger collection
OF facts favorable to the carriers than
has this member of the commission.
who has been at times considered one
of its radical members and not favor
able to some policies which the trans
portation lines have advocated or put
into effect