Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-30
STRONG PLEA MADE +.
FOR u. S. RAILROADS.
President Stephenson of A. B.
A. Urges Fairer Treatment
of Transportation Systems.

Rome G. Stephenson. president of
the American Bankers Association,
under the title why Not treat lleln
Fairly?" states the case for the rail-
roads and the rights of several hun
bred thousand citizens who own them
in the American Bankers Association
Journal. The United States and its
railroads grew up together. The West
of today had its first existence in the
imaginations of the empire builders
who planned and constructed the great
steel network. Mr.. Stephenson sug-
gests that the Nation is inclined to
neglect its obligations and ignore TIE
fact that its railroads must be kept in
strong and healthy condition. Twenty
two billions in stocks and bonds rep
resent the public's great stake in Amer
1caS rail systems. Mr.. Stephenson
asks: Are buses and waterways, in
effect, being subsidized by the Govern
ment to the detriment Of railroads."
He says in part:
Rise in Bus Traffic.
Data compiled by the National As
ISOLATION of Motor Bus Operators
shows the startling expansion that has
taken place in recent years in this type
of public transportation. In 1925 there
were in operation over $4,000 paSsen-
ger buses of all types. In 1929 there
were over $4,000, an increase in four
years of one-third on an already very
substantial base. In 1925 there were a
total of 478,000 miles of bus routes In
1929 there were over 100000 miles In
the same period LIPS 900 600 common
carrier bus passengers rose to 1885,
100000, an increase of IS per cent.
1ntercity bus passenger miles rose from
around 4,0000 900 900 to over 6,000,000,-
600, or by more than so per cent. Com
mon carrier bus miles rose on a similar
scale. Restricting the figures to inter-
city common carrier buses, We find that
this type of transportation, distinctly
competitive with the railroads, claimed
3l7,000,000 passengers for 1925 and
497,000,000 for 1929, an increase OF
1s0,000,000 or nearly 81 per cent.
I'm this period railroad passenger
traffic dropped markedly, falling from
a $4,000, 100000 passenger mileage in
1925 to 31,000,0 100000 in 1929, loss
of 100000, 900 passenger miles or about
IA per cent. These losses in railroad
passenger traffic, of course, have been
use of automobiles by the American
public, and that is unequivocally a
natural economic factor with which the
railroads cannot find fault. AS to the
growth of automotive passenger bus
traffic, especially of the longer haul
type, however, it is entirely proper to
ask to what extent and under what
conditions is this competitive with the
peoples railroads.
Motor Freight Traffic.
Data relating to highway motor
truck freight traffic as a competitor
with the railroads is fragmentary It
Is reported that at some important
Middle Western points local railroad
@Iz{wa a. Il
Live stock shipping routes up to 200 and
800 miles from some of the great CEN
tiers have been taken away from the
railroads by the highway motor truck
Even perishables. such as butter and
other dairy products, are being shipped
from Wisconsin to New York in refrig-
orator trucks at 20 per cent below rail
rates. 1t is said that over 1000 trucks
q day crowd 100 miles of highway be-
tween Philadelphia and New York laden
With freight the railroads used to carry.
Shoes, cotton. fruits, raw materials
and finished goods, n-perishables and
rerishables fer which great equipment
CItlays have been made by the rail-
reads, are now being carried for short
hauls and long hau's CT 1000 miles or
more by highwayusing trucks. We see
them operating singiy. in feets-and
even with trains of trailers that enable
them TO pass beyond the less-than-car-
lead freight field and enter into car
lead competition with the railroads.
Are the motor buses paying for
their rights OF way or meeting any por-
ton Of such a capital expenditure?
Railroads Need Protection.
I'VE may say that the motor buses
have not had to pay for their rights of
way In any sense that the railways paid
for theirs. They have simply taken
possession Of public highways built by
public funds. both State and national.
And they have extensively made those
highways vastly less comfortable, less
safe and less serviceable for private
motorists and others who are con-
tributing to their creation and main
tenance
ut is fact well known to business
leaders that our railroads are facing a
crisis and need far greater protection"
The home in London of the late prin-
cess royal is to be offered for sale.