| Show FAST FREIGHT TRAINS FOR GERMAN RAILWAYS the never ceasing trend toward reforms and improvements in the national railway system or germany has lately received an impetus lo 10 two more than ordinarily important directions first it is urged upon the government that the present slow methods ot transporting freight by means of long trains moving at an average speed of from 15 to 18 miles an hour have proved an intolerable check to the development 0 trade in germany as they have likewise become a serious interference the maintenance of fast pass nger traffic it is reported that the managements of the railway systems look with favor upon the proposed introduction of fast freight trains equal in speed to existing passenger trains but are confronted with the necessity in that event of equipping the entire rolling stock with automatic air brakes in lieu of the band brake now still applied to freight cars there of necessity an innovation of this nature would demand other changes in existing conditions such as he enlargement of tha present small european freight car and the of a large number of brakemen brake meo again the low stage of water in all german streams brought about by this summers continuous drought having practically paralyzed the larger part of the water traffic in the country and many of germanas germanys Germ anys leading industries being entirely dependent upon cheap transportation for the supply of bulky material at rates which permit of a profitable conduct of choso industries a loud demand has arisen tor a material reduction in present railway freight rates so as to aid these enterprises in bridging over a dangerous juncture la their affairs while on its face this is a movement for mere temporary relief the circumstance has served to bring on a fresh discussion of the whole subject of european freight tariffs and has given further color to the claim that they are unreasonably high A comparison beaw een those rates and such as prevail in the united states has frequently been made in consular reports the difference Is habitually pointed to in germany as one of the causes which have enabled the united states to offer its products abroad in successful competition with those of europe |
