The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-16
NEW RAILROAD TN FRANCE
By HOLLAND

New York, August 15.-(special.) )-The Bethlehem Steel company has faith in I the authorities at Washington believing | that the government will neither compel l the company to undergoe loss in the man. ufacture of steel rails nor, on the other hand, in order to prevent loss, decline to deliver the allotment of steel rails which the company has received from the gov ernment. The opinion was expressed by a high authority in the steel industry who is not in any way associated with the
 manufacturers of steel and iron in their recent conference at Washington ex- pressed themselves willing to leave to the government the decision respecting the price which the government will pay for the commodities is needs All of the leaders were persuaded that the govern ment is not only willing but anxious that the prices be so fixed es to provide for
 a reasonable net profit, possibly as much as 10 per cent upon the contract.
 There is another point of view from which the government demands fo 150,000 tons of rails, the aggregate amount to be allotted approximately among the steel building plants of the United States, are ized in the construction of double track railroad whose western terminal Is to be at a certain French port and whose eastern terminal is to be at the battle front. This railroad will, when completed, be a real achievement in railroad con- struction. It is to be built by American engineers. It is to be so constructed as to meet as far as possible the heaviest kind of traffic demand. It will be, after the war is ended, an important ad- dition to the general railway system in France It is to be, however, only one of several railroads which American en- gineers are to construct, including some which 1t is essential greatly to improve and expand, especially at terminals, in order to facilitate military operations in France.
 Not rails alone but equipment for the railroad is to be provided by the federal government. Not less than 300 locomo- tives and if possible as many as POGO cars are to be obtained by the govern l ment in order to better serve the Ameri- can army in France. especially after the large contingent arrives there next year and also to aid the movement of French and British troops as well.
 There is no doubt that Germany has already been informed of the purpose of
 the American government to build practically new doubletrack railroad from a French seaport to the battle front and also thoroughly to equip this as well as other railroads in France.
 The military leaders in Germany cannot fail to take this railroad construction in France as evidence that the United States has entered into the war with determination to employ all our resources in men, money and supplies, in order to bring the war to triumphant con. clusion. There appears to be little doubt that these railway supplies can be
 transported from the United States to
 France without meeting serious loss by
 reason of submarine attack. The Bethle-
 hem Steel company Is anxious to facili-
 tate as far as possible this very great
 work of railroad construction which has
 already begun in France. and is to be
 continued until the French railroads are
 in perfect condition for military pur-