The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-06
PREPAREDNESS DE-
PENDS ON RAILROADS
Ability to Transport Large Bodies Of
Troops and Quantities of Supplies
on Short Notice is Test Of
the Nations Strength.

New York, Dee. l0,--The existence O.
the United States as nation, in thu
event of war, would depend upon tn,
ability of railroad systems 10 transport
large bodies OF troops and quantities
OF supplies with speed and precision, ac'
cording to statements made by George
Dallas Dixon, vice president in charge OF
traffic, of the Pennsylvania railroad, in
an address before the international trade
conference here to-day.
Mr.. Dixon said that aside from abund-
ant commercial reasons for the conserya-
ton and encouragement of railroad sys-
TENS, especially those operating in the
interior, the proper establishment and
maintenance OF large and modern sys-
TENS all over the country was military
resource, vital element in preparedness
beyond the possibility of expression in
terms OF money.
IF the word should be flashed over
this country that war had been declared
and that the United States was about to
enter into conflict with another world
power" said Mr.. Dixon, "war condition
of preparedness would at once become
fore the American people.
"War has not been declared But we
have been compelled to consider posi-
bilities and national preparedness is be-
ing given much thought. One of its
most important phases, probably its most
important, has been overlooked by the
majority. / refer to transportation.
Zone of the great matters involved is
adequate preparation for the mobilization
and coordination of the internal re-
sources of the country. This means good
railroads. Not merely as good as we
have now, but better.
Suppose that hostile army was to
invade our land. Can we exaggerate the
Importance that would then attach to an
internal transportation system at the |
highest state of efficiency, with every |
facility ready to render the maximum |
of service in the rapid assembling of |
troops, movement of munitions and |
of supplies.
There are, to be sure, abundant COM
mercial reasons why it would well repay
the American people to conserve and en-
courage their railroad systems and make
their more rapid expansion and upbuild- !,
ng possible. Wel-constructed we'll
equipped, properly manned, skillfully
managed and solvent railroads are neces-
,ary to a healthy state of business. But
Is military resource, vital element
N preparedness, they would be valuable
,eyond the possibility Of expression in
erms OF money.
During the period from which we are
ust emerging, when business was, to say
he leasts quiet, our railroads were un-
bile, for financial reasons, to improve
heir properties in anticipation of re-
urn 10 what / might call a prosperous 1
ra. Their earnings were not sufficient 4
o warrant investors in supplying the j
spital needed to provide facilities for !
he greatly enlarged traffic nor were :
hey enough 10 enable the roads to put
y a surplus for all those things which i
o TO make up a good railroad, but which, '
kept to a very small extent, do not b
lcrease railroads earning powers" r
Mr.. Dixon said that preparedness of n
lilroads had played an important fac r.
Ir in the present European war and L