The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-28
RAILROADS PASS
TO GOVERNMENT
At NOON TODAY
GREAT EVENT Is BELIEVED TO BE
FORERUNNER OF FURTHER
CONTROL OF UTILITIES.
NtCOLOSSAL SYSTEM
Practically Every Railroad Man in the
Country Pledges SuppOrt-Immedixt
Result OF Merger Will BE to Who
Out Competition, Hasten Shipments.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-Aat noon today
the 25O 900 miles of American railway
systems silently merged into one great
continental system for the winning of
the war.
Under President Wilson's decision the
great event, regarded by many as the
opening of new epoch in government
operation and control of public utilities.
passed by without any formal cere-
mony.
Drector-General McAdoo was confer
ring at the time with the members of
the railroadmen board and Robert S.
Lovett, chairman OF the priority ship
ment committee.
The members of the war board all
railroad executives who have been
working within the limitations of law
TO do what the government itself now
proposes to accomplish. pledged their
support to the government admnistra-
ton. as has practically every railroad
man in the country.
Orders for the actual unifcation of
the lines, common use of facilities,
equipment and terminals, which are ex-
pected to raise the freight jam mme-
mediately. will be the first results.
The immediate result of the order will
bt 10 wipe OUT competition ana Te-fOute
traffic over the shortest lines.
Shipments will move directly to their
destinations regardless Of the company
with which they originate. and ter
minals will be used in common to effect
maximum efficiency. Speedy movement
of freight will be the first step of the
director general.
At the conclusion of the conference
of the railroad heads Mr.. McAdoo an
nounced that he had called on the man.
bers of the railroad war board to work
out general plan of operation.
War Board Will Continue.
II is indicated that the war board
will continue as the operating body in
charge of the countrys roads. 1t will
be assisted by its numerous committees
throughout the country, including the
operating committee of eastern rail-
roads, headed by A. w. Thompson of
the Baltimore < Ohio.
Director-General McAdoo will issue no
orders or directions for the immediate
present. but will await recommendations
of the war board before taking any
measures TO clear the congestion and
choking of railroad 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 find out
what is necessary"
AS the first practical step in the gov
operation of the roads, Di-
McAdoo drafted the rail-
roads war board into the government
service to work out plans of unified
operation and submit them to him for
approval.
VIII Pool Freight.
Mr.. McAdoo said he had made no ar
ra ngements III regard to a staff, but
he presence at the conference of John
Barton Payne, of Chicago. head of the
hipping boards legal staff. led to some
peculation that Mr.. Payne might be-
come an assistant to the director gen.
,ral.
The railroad heads were visibly in a
)etter frame of mind after the confer
,nce than they were before talking
With Director General McAdoo. Hale
Holden of the Burlington said that the
ailroad heads Immediately would set
bout working out plan of railroad
and the pooling Of freight.
POOLING he said. would accomplish
nuch in relieving congested lines and
xpediting traffic movements.
List of Five Executives.
Washington, Dec. 2S.-The following
i've railroad executives each a leader
n the business of transportation, will
york out the plans for welding 250,0O0
niles of railroad into one great con-
mental system for winning the war:
Fairfax Harrison, president of the
outhern railway.