Evening star., 1933-05-21

TO the LrOuDle WIFI Lie ran
road situation is a subject
which is before the public eye-the
investing public, the public transport
ing property. and the wage Garner.
Speaking OF railroads generally, there
is no question as to the need for the
maintenance of a system Of rail trans
portation between the States, not only
to bind the country into one common
whole. but also to maintain means
of transportation that may be necessary
In times of military emergency. Such
rail lines, If they cannot be main
tanned with the traffic that comes to
them naturally, should receive Govern
ment support when absolutely necessary
in military crisis.
The Railway Situation.
Now. as to the general situation in
connection with the railroads, we are
faced with the following conditlons:
N The gross tonnage OF freight
carried by railroads in 1910 was ,850,-
600 600 tons. In 1882 it was 1880, ,000,-
600 tons. Gross freight revenue in lsl0
was sl,925, ,000.0e0 or a revenue OF
about sl.04 per ton, and in 1897 was
50. .449. .O0O. .0e0 or revenue OF ABOUT
s1.s1 per ton. The operating expense
in 1910 was $500, 100000 at a cost OF
about s098 per. ton, and IN 1882 was
81, ,430. 900 COO at cost OF 81 80 per ton.
This shows an increase OF approximate
" "a per cent in the per ton rate OF
operating expense and "a per cent ID
the rate of operating revenue PaSsen-
gers carried in 1910 were 91l ,ooo,uoo' IN
1882 were 4s3, 100000.
(2) Wages have increased since l9lu,
146 per cent-they are approximately 63
per cent of operating expenses. Taxes
have increased since 1910 21l per cent
Funded Indebtedness has increased from
s10 400. 900 900 in 1910 to Sl4.260 .OO0 ,OU0
in 1881. This shows that the total rail-
road expenses have increased approx
matelv IS per cent. and have kept pace
with the increase in rates.
(3o In 1910 the transportation system
of the country contained 100000 road
miles of railroad and approximately
200 900 miles of hard-surfaced roaos.
We have no definite figure on pipe lines,
but there were perhaps 10000 miles.
There were no airways. This makes
total of 470 600 miles. In 1880 the
Transportation system contained ap-
proXirnately 100000 miles Of railroad,
700 600 miles of hard-surfaced roads
106 900 miles of crude oil and 1900
miles of gasoline pipe lines, and 10000
miles of airways, making total OF
080 900 miles. In 1910 there were
458. 500 automobiles. and in 1880: 23.-
O42 .OO0 There were IN 1910, 10000
trucks, and in 1890, 3.480,939,
a. In 1920 the water borne domestic
traffic Of our coast ports was 47,262, QUO
tons. and in 1890 it was 11782l 900
tons, or an increase of l49 per cent in
the 10 years The Ohio River carried
$780, 900 tons of freight in 1920 and
%. 337. 900 tons in 1880. an increase of
1913 per cent in 10 years. On the War
rior and Tombigbee Rivers there were
carried 100000 tons in 1920 and 1882
900 tons in 1880, gain of 164 per cent
in 10 years. There were carried on the
Mississippi between Vicksburg and New
Orleans in 1920, 2874000 tons. and in
1880. 9,178 900 tons. an increase OF 2l9
per cent in the 10 years Two decades
ago this freight was all enjoyed by the
railroads.
80 Since 1910 rail equipment has IN
creased in ira ctive power approximately
so per cent. the number of freight-train
cars per freight train has increased ap-
proyirnately so per cent. the average
capacity Of all types Of freight cars
has increased approximately IS per
cent.
Basic Facts in Problem.
Summarizing briefly the basic general
situation, We have the following:
In the transportation field generally:
% The railroad was practically the
only means Of transportation for pas
seneers and freight in 1910.
t2l Our transportation system has IN
creased in extent an indefinite amount.
probably not less than IS per cent nor
more than so per cent.
(3) At the present time automobiles
and busses carry approximately the
same number of passengers as the rail-
roads.
| "a Means of transportation have in
creased perhaps rs per cent since 1910.
(5) Miles of way that transportation
may use increased approximately l30
| per cent since 1910.
Divisions Of Transportation.
AS to the transportation field, the fol-
! lowing fundamentals are true:
/ % The transportation Of freight by
| land, both bulk and light, between dis
railroad field.
/ (2) The transportation of liquid
/ freight between centers is partly rail-
road and partly PIPE line field.
49, The transportation Of freight
! from transportation centers to nearby
points of consumption should be ex-
clusively the automobile and truck field.
(4 The transportation Of passengers
is divided between railroads, automo-
biles. buses and aeroplanes.
(5) The railroads have developed
great savings per unit In the freight
carryine field,