Transportation Developments in the United States

A broad review of the problems facing transportation in the United States is offered in this paper, with sharpest emphasis placed upon the problems facing the railroads. Of the five important transportation agencies-railways, highways, waterways, pipe lines, and airways-railways are shown to be the most important. Special stress is laid on the need for adequate research on a large scale and broad basis into the problems confronting the railroads, both for their proper rehabilitation and necessary progress. The writer considers that the prosperity of the railroads is essential to the prosperity of the country as a whole. The railways are in grave financial difficulties, maintenance is greatly deferred, and progress is not being made. This is due to fundamental defects in governmental regulation rather than loss of traffic due to the general depression. It is believed that there should be better co-ordination of all transport facilities and direct governmental aid or extension of credit should be provided for the railways as it is now being extended to all other forms of transportation.