Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-31
Special TO Times Republican.

Special TO Times Republican.
Des Moines, May 3l,-Representa-
tives Of the interstate commerce COM
mission working IN Iowa have prac-
ucally completed d valuation Of the
main line Of the Rock Island from
Davenport 10 Council Bluffs. Thomas
Waters Jr. representing the state
railroad commission, expects to receive
the figures OF the interstate commerce
commission in a short time and vii!
check up on them. One system at
time will be worked out unit! all or
the roads are judged.
Dean Raymond, of the University q
Iowa, viii use engineers from the state
university and will make a survey OF
parts OF the Rock Island system con-
sidered typical and these will De fig
ured up and the state figures COM
pared with those of the commission at
Washington. The government has
worked out a system Of average values
which are considered equitable in every
way and these figures VIII form the
basis of computation.
Mr.. Waters. whose appointment as
the legal representative OF the state 10
check over the railroad valuations was
announced last week. has taken one o.
the small committee rooms back Of the
senate in the state capitOl building as
Ms Office and IS collecting A mass II
information already worked out by the
government ana by representative CT
the interstate commerce commission.
He expects TO attend a conference in
Washington the latter part Of June
where the valuation matters will ne
gone over oy representatives Of the
railroads and railroad commissioners
Looks to Possible Ownership.
II a discussion NJ the issues in the
federal railway appraisal clyde B.
AlCh4son. solicitor for the valuation
committee Of the National Association
Of Railway Commissioners. declares
that in many respects the possible gov
eminent ownership Of railroads IS re-
garded as one of the most important
phases Of the present valuation. On
this point ne says:
Entirely aside from the question OF
the direct application of the appraisal
TO rates. there is a strong and increas-
ing opinion that sooner or later The
findings of the federal tribunal in the
present proceedings will play an i'm
pcrta1t part in the proceedings which
may oOk toward the acquisition by the
government Of the whole or large part
Of the present transportation system"
Little Sand Being Shipped.
Railroads operating in iowa have
curta;led very largely the shipping of
sand and dealers in sand have been
notified that shipments may ne cut off
altogether. The special committee of
national defense of the American Rail
way Association has decided that cars
used for shipping sand should be used
for coal shipments, as coal Is more es-
sential than sand for building in war
times.
The state railroad commission has
received word that the railroads war
board. which has been organized to
operate all the roads Of the country as
one system for the purposes Of national
defense, has advised railroads 10 ad-
Just their services TO conserve fuel
supply and increase the capacity OF
the lines as a whole. The board de-
clares that this is done to secure the
maximum transportation energy for
moving coal food. materials and troops
nece ssary for the successful conduct
Of the war
instructions TO Roads.
The communication TO the individual
railroads says in part:
"Consolidate where practicable thru
passenger train service and eliminate
trains which are not we'll patron!zed.
Reduce the number Of special trains
and give UP running excursion trains.
"On light and branch lines where two
or more passenger trains are operated
try to reduce to one train a day.
Substitute, where practicable, mixed
train service for separate passenger
service and freight service on branch
lines. Closely review number Of
scheduled freight trains where tonnage
IS insufficient to load them with a view
10 reducing the number Of trains.
'Where passenger trains are double
headed for speed, a readjustment Of
schedule or cutting out Of cars where
possible, will release locomotives for
freight service.
Reduce, as far as practicable, lux