Evening star., 1917-11-25

in their judgment may be nece:
ton and assure the maximum an
To Operate as Unit.
This means. IL the order is carried out
literally. and there is every expectation
it will be, all railroads east of Chicago
viii be operating virtually as unit In
freight carriage. directed by war board
In direct touch with the government.
supervised by q group of the foremost
railroad men of the country.
: The immediate effect Of this action OF
greatest interest to the average citizen
viii be to expedite the movement Of coal
and foods. The shortage of anthracite
coal In eastern cities. including Washing
ton. has become serious within the last
few days Within forty-eight hours the
Department Of Justice has been called
70 sess snvsstiss.. 2 . s1si alleged is Tying 3
signments Of food there. nnch OF wnicn
consisted Of perishabie products spelling
in the cars or being nipped by the frost
Expedites War Orders.
But of even greater effect. 50 far as the
government Is concerned. VIII be the aid
IL
contracts. both in government and pri-
vate plants During the past week New
England has sent an S. o. S. call for
cars. and big industries there have sent
word to Washington they have been
hampered both by lack of coal and by a
lack of cars to convey raw materials
needed in manufacture.
In taking this step the railroads war
board acts in its capacity of volun-
teer agency through which the rail-
roads soaking tn cn.0naratA with
the government In the face of wartime
exigencies W. s. Clifford of the Council
OF National Defense, In an interview
with newspaper men Friday. pointed to
of the sort of organization for CO.
operation 1t is hoped will be formed by
all major industries Of the country.
1t was recalled last night that Mr..
things are hoped for from the appoint
ment of Daniel Willard as chairman of
the war industries board of the Coun-
ell Of National Defense" Mr.. Clifford
manship of the advisory commission of
the council. and also the chairmanship
Of the committee on transportation and
communication of the council
Consults Board Members.
Since Mr.. willard's appointment to
succeed Frank A. Scott at the head Of
the war Industries board early last
week. he has been in consultation with
members Of the railroads war board,
from which he resigned. however, as
an ex-officio member. 1t was assumed
last night Mr.. Willard had found one
of the chief factors of the problems
confronting the prosecution of war in
dustries to be transportation. There
fore he may have had a part in the
movement to bring the railroads into
even closer cooperation with the war
industries board and other committees
of the Council of National Defense by
the revolutionary move announced by
the railroad men.
Whatever may have been Mr.. Will
lards activity. the railroads war
board for some time has been studying
the increasing congestion on eastern
lines In. this section the roads have
become overburdened by growing in
dustrial activity. As a part Of the
program for relieving conditions it has
addressed a letter to the fuel adminis-
recommendations:
Shortens Rail Haul.
That survey be made by the fuel
administration of present contracts and
methods of purchase and shipment OF
coal so as to shorten the rail haul from
Nituc 10 consumer ana TO elim1naIe as
far as possible all cross hauls of COAL
Pooling Of coal within reasonable
limits" the war board said, will with.
out doubt produce additional large
savings. and the railroads are pre-
pared to cooperate in any measures
pursued by the fuel administration tc
that end"
Further recommendations made By
the railroads war board follow:
That immediate measures be adopt
ed to transfer movement of foodstuff:
and other export material to southern
and gulf ports to as large a degree a.
compatible with public interest. Ii
order to relieve the eastern congestet
territory of an equivalent amount o,
train service.
That immediate survey be made OF
all government requirements now
evolving the movement of raw mate
rails in and manufactured product out
lations on cars and line and in termi-
nails will not occur as now. while
product is awaiting use here or oceaI
transportation for foreign USE"
In explaining the need for these
steps the war boards statement says:
overtaxed Rail Capacity.
The concentration in. certain part,
and Industrial activities has overtaxee
the capacity of rail lines in that ter
ritory. Considering the heavy move
ment Of coal and other heavy com
modittes which formerly moved OF
eoeotwtse vessels, but has now beeI
f1eoy3-uDen the-railroads, the haav1