Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-28
$50, 900 MILES OF
RAILROADS UNIFIED
Now TO % Operated as One National
System-Shortest Hauls Possible to
30 Made Rule in Order TO Relieve
Congestion at TerminaIs-Retention
Of Present Operating Officials Prob
able, with Reduced Salaries.

noon today. Director General McAdoo
drafted the railways war board into
the government service to work out
plans Of unified operation and submit
them to him for approval.
Approximately 100000 miles of Amer
lean railway systems were silently
merged into one great continental chain
for the winning of the war at noon to-
day.
mo Formal Ceremony.
Under President Wilson's decision
the great event. regarded by many as
the opening of new epoch in govern :
ment operation and control of public
utilities. passed by without >any formal
ceremony.
Director General. McAdoo was con-
ferring at the time with the members
of the railroad war board and X. ;.
Lovett, chairman Of the priority ship
ment board. :.
The members OF the war board-all
railroad executives who have peen
working within the limitations of law
to do what the government itself now
purposes to accomplish-pledged their
support to the government adminlstra :
,tion. as has practically every railroad
man in the eouptry.
- compsAitieNs Ntipad Out. ssg.
s }Orders for the actual unitication OF
the lines, common use of facilities and
eouipments which are expected to re-
Iieye the freight jam Immediately, Will
be the first results. The immediate re-
sult will be to wipe out competition
and re-ro,lte traffic over the shortest
lines. Shipments will move directly 70
the destinations and regardless OF the
company with which they originate
and terminals will be used In common
to effect maximum efficiency.
Retention Of present railway OFFICIALS
and employees seems assured, out lnal-
cations are that huge salaries OF ral!-
way executives will be reduced and
wages of operatives increased. Presi-
dent Wilson conferred with chiefs OF
the four railway brotherhoods yester-
ilay and received their pledges OF 10y
atty to the government administration
War Board to Operate Lines.
At the conclusion of the conference
with the railroad heads Mr. McAdoo
announced he had called on the mem
hers OF the railroad war board to worK
ont a general plan Of operation.
II Is indicated that the war board
will continue as the operating body IN
charge Of the country's roads. 1t Will
be assisted by its numerous commit
tes thruout the country, including the
onerating committee Of eastern rail-
ways.
director General McAdoo will issue
no orders or directions for the immed-
late present, but will await recon
nendations of the war board before
taking any measures to clear the con-
cestion choking railway terminals and
tracks in the east.
"whatever can be done to make the
roads more efficient" said Mr.. McAdoo,
will be done as, soon as we hnd out
what is necessary"
Men Who Will Direct.
The following five railway execu.
+;ves each a leader in the business o,
Transportation, will work out the plans
fnr welding 25OOO0 miles of railway
into one great continental system fol
winning the war: -.
Fairfax Harrison, president OF the
Southern railway.
Julius Kruttschnitt, chairman OF the
hoard of the Southern Pacific.
Samuel Rea, president OF the Penh'
sylvania.
Hale Holden. president Of the Bur
lington.
Howard Elliott, Of the New Haven.
4 The financial question was touched
but lightly in the conference. Ihe
railway executives described the stu.
alton to Secretary McAdoo and toio
him lust what they need in the way
OF government guarantees and encouf'
arement OF securities issues.
In Better Mood.
~ Operating problems were gone into
at length. The railway executives
promised their fullest CO. operation IN
carrying out any measures the directoi
general may think necessary.
Mr.. NcAdoo said he had made no ar
.ranaements in, regard to a staff but
the presence at the conference OF Jonn
barton Payne. OF Chicago, head OF tHe
shipping boards legal stan. led tc
some speculation that Mr.. Payne might
become an assistant to the director
general.
The railway heads were visibly In q
better frame of mind after the confe.
ence than they were before. Halt
Holden. Of the Burlington. said thai
the railroad heads Immediately wouie
set about to work out a plan OF ra'''