The last stand of the reciprocating steam engine

During the year 1920 the people of the United States will pay out for automobiles, not commercial trucks or farm tractors, but pleasure vehicles, a sum of money considerably greater than the estimated requirements of our steam railways for that year. The railways however, may find it very difficult and perhaps impossible to secure the large sums needed without government aid, notwithstanding the fact that the continued operation and expansion of our roads are of vital necessity to the welfare and prosperity of the country and all its industries. The will of the American public has always been constructive and undoubtedly, in due time, its voice will be heard and properly interpreted by its representatives in Washington with the resulting enactment of such laws as will permit our railways again to offer an attractive field for the investment of private capital.