New-York tribune., 1917-07-16
q, Companies Respond to
Central Direction of the
War Board
troops Handled Well
,..fer, Made Without De-
,,v. Regular Traffic Larg-
est in History

lexington, July 15.-"The essence
~. ,.;lroad situstion," said Daniel
ssl,rd. chairman of the Committee
transportation Of the Council OF
d Defence. in an interview to-
a., ira, the railroads Of the whole
~; ~ States are nationalized.
~. saS railroad companies oPerat-
for,y.eight states and control
!. $4,000 miles Of road are respond
= admirably to central direction from
.,ealled railroad War Board OF
- nrssidents. They have respond
:. every suggestion made by the
I'll : Of National Defence through
Mar Board. They have made all
..,.,..r Of troops on schedule in a
- so far as | am advised, en-
...lv satisfactory 70 the War Depart
- -. without serious disruption OF
y,.Isrtrsfie.
,r,.r have tremendously increased
:. ,r,nlv Of coal cars facilitated the
.,..t Of grain and met the needs OF
!. government at least as promptly
- .fsc,ually as if they were under
~. governmental authority
a. willard eXplained that last sum-
-, the railroads worked out with
,,,,a Baker, Of the Quartermaster's
r,,,, Of the army. complete scheme
=. v,r.time railroad operations. and
+. his scheme. since elaborated and
.-,.,.sS has worked so well that
'r-,g the las. two months the rail-
-. NJ the country, though handling
.,r'v more ton miles than ever before
.,,, been constantly Transporting
-. IN considerable numbers with
=, /, the least interrupting regular
iss.'
Regular Traffic Heavy
r., regular traffic. ne explained, has
,,., larger probably than in any pre-
-,-, rer;od in the history OF the couu-
r- 'aTraAic was heavy before the
r,,sd States entered the war" he said
'sau,s Of the necessity Of moving
r,-.r ,us quantities Of supplies, ma
yril and finished products for the
lrss but since April 6 il has increased
,,-s.dously. The reports for April
tsu hat the railroads of the United
s,,,g ia that month handled over s.
e5iNNo0 more ton nBles than were
t.,..! during the s1me month in 1916
a. crease in business amounting 20
Twunt. And the traffic in April
lsls .lasggh there was a strike I'M
r-d,g vas heavy compared TO al
tx. isy year before the beginning OF
e, Egropsan war
Q; Nay /. when the railroads War
n; vas established and the rail
IS Sc; out 70 cooperate with II in
Sort 70 get greater national eff
,s;ty, there was C. shortage Of l4S,-
= aIs. At the end of June this short
y bad been decreased TO 1851 cars,
r'sgh business was steadily increas-
=
H. Willard said that in the judg-
-s,' Of many railroad men who have
t..Tsi the situation closely vital con-
;s''los would have hindered the trans
N'a'lon Of troops, seriously delayed
e .''e-p.etion o. the cantonments and
i;7rystsd the coal situation if the
a.roies hal not Voluntarily made
e'1's.ves ready 70 act as unit.
Business Activity Stimulated
Beginning with April G." he said,
'.Hnsss activity has been greater
IN ever before in America, I think.
vas stimulated in many directions-
we manufacture of uniforms, cloth
= materials for the building Of can
.i-sa,s, making o. ammunition, etc.
.''a :la-e vas Increased by the with
fisil o. many ot the lake boats, and
;..3s-.
Bats we're also withdrawn from
,''M iFafic, both on the Atlantic and
,hie and much OF the bulk that has
s*' s'irg through the Panama Canal
H '.!nec over 70 the railroads.
osiore Americas entrance into the
az Ar Willard said, there was Sc
- ial.roao congestion, not because
- Hi!'oses were broken down, but be-
80, 80. nafac had been extraordinarily
.'1'y' and there was no concerted
s.s Nss!o.e 70 get greater efficiency.
- y ne nrst steps Of the War Board
- 80 . request the railroads 20 give
.s.Hsles 70 the movement Of coal,
,,..~ss.af.y coal for me government,
ns' the second preference should
t.sa 70 ore. Means for identifying
,."lneni shipments were devised,
H'''s were sent out by the rail
- % send government freight
80 70 destination whether or not
,-.....sefs - sefs through rates md divisions
s,hg' Ways were also planned
.S'lsrste Allied shipments.
49, 80 var Board pointed out 70 the
- W. Willard said, "how various