Auto v. Train

Passenger traffic on the Southern Railway has declined 30% in the last five years, motor travel of course being the competitive influence. But while the auto was reducing passenger income it was increasing freight income. Fairfax Harrison, Southern president, estimated that 15% of Southern's 1928 freight traffic came from the automotive industry. Since Southern's 1928 passenger revenue was $24,000,000, of which 30% would be $7,200,000; and its freight revenue was $108,000,000, of which 15% is $16,200,000, the horseless carriage on the whole did not do so badly by the iron horse.