The Evening Herald

MEXICAN R. R.'S
IN BAD SHAPE

JUAREZ, Mex., Aug. 31.--Rehabilitation of Mexican industrial life will largely depend on the railroads, which, now at one of the lowest levels of commercial and industrial activity, cannot adequately care for the country's needs, according to Mexican railroad officials and employees.

A trip through northern Mexico from the district about Torreon shows the traveler this apparently is true. Along the tracks thousands of tons of rails, twisted, curved and cut by revolutionists who sought to cut communication to hinder pursuit or harass their enemies can be seen.

Ties need replacing; roadbeds are in terrible shape and must have much work done; bridges, permanent ones and temporary structures built to replace those blown up by revolutionists, must be replaced or repaired; new rolling stock must be bought in great quantities and the old repaired; motive power is lacking and the majority of locomotives are declared ready for the scrap heap.

Not only are destroyed rails seen in great quantities along the right of way but time after time in the course of a day's travel will be seen the skeletons of passenger and freight coaches burned when trains were captured or fired when trains were wrecked by dynamite or in collision.

Shippers declare freight service is exorbitant in price and uncertain in delivery to the extent of being almost useless to a shipper.

Most of the country's business is said to be carried on through express shipments such as add greatly to the cost. There also is a dearth of workers due to the railroad employees flocking to United States to obtain high wages.

Some large concerns like the American Smelting & Refining company own cars of their own, furnishing cars, motive power and crews to transport their products. Shipments like hay and other agricultural products have not been moving in months because of revolutions, high cost of transportation and lack of rolling stock except for military purposes.

The cotton growers of the Laguna district about Torreon, one of the great cotton growing sections of the world, this year are worrying about how they will move their product to tidewater for export to Europe.

The present government, it was said, realizes the necessity for improvement in the railroad situation and plans large purchases of rolling stock and other necessities, but railroad officials declare these purchases will fail to be felt for months because the railroads of the United States from where materials must come will need all that can be manufactured for years.