Evening star., 1953-07-08


roading is centered In Washing
ton in the Fruit Growers Express
Co., organized in 1920 by Henry
Spencer, father Of District Com
missioner Samuel Spencer. With
out the big refrigerator rail cars
operated by F. G. E. and other
companies in the Midwest and
West, the transportation of fresh
meats, vegetables and fruits over
long haulS would be greatly re-
duced in volume and much higher
in cost. Last year. Clio rail car
loads of perishable produce rolled
into Washington, representing
roughly 400 pounds of fruit and
vegetables for every District area
resident.
The railroad industry, repre-
senting an investment that
couldn't be replaced by all the
gold in Fort Knox, pays annual
taxes well over 81 billion. It has
been called the backbone of the
Nation" and many times has
demonstrated that without it,
the country's economy would be
crippled. Yet. despite this finan-
cial power, it has found itself
fighting 25-year uphill battle in
competition with younger forms
of transportation.
After virtual monopoly in land
transport until the mid 192OS,
the roads suddenly found them
selves faced with a mighty rival
in the automobile. Because of
their mobility after reaching a
city, many former rail passen-
gers turned to the auto espe-
cially in the Short-haul field.
Before the railroads could re-
cover from this shock, they re-
ceived another blow from the
young airlines which grew rap
idly after 1880.
In the hauling Of heavy freight
and the basic commodities of the
Nations economy, the railroads
are the only foreSeeable carriers
OF the future. Trucks and air.
lines can't handle many items
which are naturals for the rails.
But in passenger traffic, many
experts believe the constant def
icit encountered by the railroads
since 1880 is largely caused by
the roads themselves.
Passengers' Lot Improved.
Until the modern streamlined
trains with reserved seat accom-
modations and a more person.
allied touch in passenger-rail-
road relations were introduced.
most rail patrons more or less
shifted for themselves after pur-
chasing tickets. In contrast, the
a1rlines-and many big bus COM
panies-offered a bit of the car
rlage-trade" luxury to customers.
Airline ticket Offices and waiting
rooms were bright, colorful and
modern in contrast to the old.
dlngy and Strictly-"railroad" type
OF train terminals.
In meeting this competition.
the roads have adopted a de-
fensive rather than aggressive
policy, Interstate Commerce
Commission Anthony F.. Arpaia
said in a speech recently.
Railroads have been decrying
conditions. competition and reg
ulation to such an extent that
the effect has been to discourage
shippers, the travelling public
and investors" he says. Instead
of selling their advantages, they
have tended to create the i'm
preston that they are helplessly
on the downgrade."
While Mr.. Arpaia's comments
sum up the railroads attitude of
a few years ago, most large lines
are stepping up their public
relations and undermining equip
ment to regain their passenger
trade. The Pennsylvania's new
Congressional Limited from
Washington to New York is a
sparkling example of luxury in
rail travel. Last year, the In
duStry spent more than $1.3 bill
lion for new equipment.
Southern Points Way.
The Southern, Washington's
only Glass l railroad with head
quarters here, has pointed the
way out of a century, -old rail-
road philosophy that well do
as we please" When the South
ern converted it's motive power
to Diesel-electric locomotives,
thousands of persons throughout
the South complained that the
raucous blast Of the diesel air
horn had ruined their memories
Of railroading. They wanted the
piercing and often melodious
steam whistle to remain.
At this point the Southern
proved that public relations was
a No. job with them. They
bought new chime type air horns.
hired a musician to compare the
tone of a steam whistle with
them and tuned them to simulate
the lonesome "whooooo" of a
steam locomotives call through
the night.
The railroads definitely are
here to stay. Mr.. Arpaia sums
it up:
Railroads still hold the place
of primacy in transportation.
Rails still constitute the most
important and necessary form of
transportation whose vigor and
health is indispensable to our
national welfare, if not our very
existence. Without them, this
country would be a hulk Of a
body. practically paralyzed and
useless"