CHAPTER IV
IDEALS
27.
AN officer of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Eail-way,
who was taking me over the line and pointing
out to me the ways in which that road had worked
for high efficiency, said among other things: "You notice
that this road is located along the banks of the
streams. This is a manufacturing region but the
country is hilly, and flat land suitable for factory
sites is to be found only along the banks of the streams.
We foresaw that factories would want these sites, and
located our road as you see. Then, when factories
came in, we gave them the very best service. That
brought more factories, and gave us a big freight business.
Also our location on flat land gives us a road
free from heavy grades, and enables us to haul big
train loads."
Afterward, in talking with an officer of another
road, I cited the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie as an example
of efficiency. "Oh!" he exclaimed impatiently,
"You can't talk about the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie.
Any road could be efficient if it had their advantages.
Their road is a procession of factories from one end
to the other. And they haven't a grade on it of more
than 3% per cent."
26
