Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-09
MAY ASK RAILROADS
TO CURTA|L SCHEDULES
State Council of Defense Considers
Ways Of Meeting Extraordinary
Needs OF Government.
CAR SHORTAGE is SERIOUS
Local Exchanges to BE Organized TO
Coordinate Work OF Women
Throughout Virginia--Welfare OF
Children During War Times.

| " dT in1CS.
Changes in railroad schedules To nice;
the extraordinary needs of the govern
ment in it's war preparations will he
urged at the proper time and before
the proper tribunal by the Virginia
Council OF Defense. which has been
called upon to cooperate with the
special committee. headed bv FairfaN
Harrison. of the Southern Railway.
which has been appointed for this pur
pose by the American Railway .Asso.
ella ton
Effort will he made in the proposed
reimbursement OF schedules TO cause
as little Inconvenience as possible to
shippers and travellers and the public
generally. II is not proposed to dis
rb~ordinary shipping where such
disturbance can be avoided. but care
VIII he taken to insure the govern
ment the hest facilities obtalnable on
all roads which may be used in the
transportation Of war supplies.
The Southern Railway Company
already has made petition to the Cor
poration Commission of this State and
other States through which the line
operates for a partial discontinuancc
OF passenger service. in the interest OF
making possible more efficient ser
vice to the government. 1t proposes
TO discontinue in NirS mia about seven
teen trains which now duplicate ser
vice. Crews from these trains would
be used it is supposed, on the freights
needed for government purposes.
SHORTAGE OF FREIGHT
CARS CAUSES CONCERN
The shortage of freight cars in the
United states is of considerable con-
Germ. There are only 900. 00r Of them
in the country. and thes" are barely
sufficient for commercial needs Unless
the railroads operate one system
and make economic changes which NAY
result in inconvenience to the public.
the 'ai't'"'l equipment. both ,ha, whnh
Is now available and the larGes'
amount that may be attainable. will
he insufficient to meet the eXtracrdi-
nary demands 10 be made upon it.
The railroads have adopted. as the
fundamental principles on which to
secure the desired results increase Of
efficiency. economy OF effect and the
elimination OF competition. In other
words, by patriotic cooperation to or
crate as IL they were one great cor
poration. intent upon securing the
greatest results at the least expense
OF effort and OF money
Transportation officials Of the rail-
roads entering Richmond have already
worked out tentative schedules calling
for a reduction in the number Of trains
meni OF the railroads for the movement
OF troops and government supplies No
general announcement of this action
has been made. but il Is known In rail-
road circles that these steps have al
ready been taken. and plans are being
completed for the transporting OF the
national Euardsmen when they are
modified in July. 1t is not improb-
able that excursion trains will be ma
terially reduced within the next few
weeks.
When the women OF Virginia are
organized for cooperative work in the
war. as they will be after the meeting
called by Mrs. b. II. Munford, AS tenn
porary chairman of the Virginia hi
vision of the Women's COMMITTEE of
,he Council OF National Defersr on
June 10. ore of the frSt things jhcy
VIII be asked TO consider viii he CO.
operation between women of the towns
md cities and the women OF the farms
in the cause uf greater food produc-
lion and conservation.
LOCAL EXCHANGES TO
to-ORDINATis WOMEN'S EFFORTS
y plan is being developed now for
p: esentation TO the women OF this
state. 1t provides for the establish
ment OF local exchanges in each com
inunity. where club women and other
women with more or less leisure may
get in touch with farmers wives Of
the vicinity 1t is further planned
that these exchanges will be enlist
ment places for signing up volunteers
i'll the food production movement The
town or city woman with spare time
will be enabled, by this means. TO vol
untcer TO assist the farmers wife when
she needs help.
The State Council of Defense has ad-
dressed short letter to the women Of
Virginia along the line OF the suggest
cd way for their help in the war emer-
Ecncy
one Of the pressing demands upon
'he attention Of the women is the vel
fare Of children Miss Julia. Lathrop.
head OF the Children's Bureau OF the
department Of Labor at Washington
is going To direct the child welfare
work OF the women Of the whole coun-
Try through the State organizations.
~" women hope TO profit by the mis-
takes OF other warning countries and
l" prevent their repetition in this coun-
Try through a campaign of education.
MANY THINGS FOR WOMEN
To THINK OF AND WORK FOR
Delinquency Of children. relief for
the families Of soldiers ana sailors and
tho rc-education Of men who lose some
N their faculties IN war are among
the problems suggested by the council
Tor the women 80 think about and
tackle with all tn. energy and ability
they can command aud with the high
est spirit of cooperation
Lewis VI. Machen. director of the
i."Gislatir" Reference Bureau and