Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-12-05
THE WAR board CALLS
FOR ELECTRIC LINES
10 Coordinate be Facilities OF
Electric Railways Of the County
ANNAP0LISuNES REPRESENTED
To Conduct Kaliea's Affairs During
The War Nork Outlined
Fer Than.

electric railway properties II tAoc2es-
Ter. Syracuse and Auburn. New forA.
Annapolis. Maryland. and Newport
News and Hampton. Virginia. has been
made director Of the War Board Of
ne Association, with headquarters IN
washington
Mr.. Allen today outlined the pnr-
poses Of The Board as il affects the
conduct Of electric railways during
The war
The Council Of National De-
tense he said, has wisely decided
10 cali into conference Representatives
OF all forms Of transportation for the
purpose OF co-ordinating their facIl-
tiles. The success Of our armies and
the continuance OF our industries de-
pends upon the nations ability To
provide transportation The prob
lens involved may be solved il team
work between the various interests
can be brought about Besides our
steam railroads, electric roads, water
ways and motor trucks can all be used
for the transportation OF materials
and men
There are 1900 miles of electric
railway IN the country. OF this lit
tie more than 10000 miles is inter
urban Between Eve and six billion
dollars are invested in electric rail-
way properties. II is in order that the
greatest possible use can be made
Of the resources of this system OF
transportation, both by the govern
ment and by industry that the Assoc
citation has organized a War Board.
II is not case OF the electric rail-
WAYS competing for business with the
steam lines, with waterways, or
motor frucks-if is rather q case OF
supplementing The service these 9th
ers perform If the work IS 10 be
done successfully. il viii mean not
only the fullest cooperation between
the various transportation interests,
but the equal cooperation on the part
Of the public
For instance. electric railways in
some cases parallel and in many
cases serve the same territory as
steam roads. 1t is entirely possible
to so arrange schedules as 70 allow
electric lines to take over much Of
the local work Of the steam roads and
so release equipment for through
service.
at is possible also in many cases. TO
arrange for Interchange Of traffic be-
tween electric lines. which are now
in the main operated independently
Of each other, thus avoiding conges-
ton in steam road terminals and en-
abling quick shipments.
"The steam roads have furnished 10
the Priority Boards and to the fuel
administration a list Of some $50
commodities. which they declare 10 be
non-essential and upon which it is
proposed TO place an embargo. Il Is
entirely possible that arrangement
can be made 10 transport some OF
these commodities by electric rail-
ways.
Emergency shipments may also be
handled by the electric lines The
other day, two carloads Of goods
we're, by arrangements made By tele-
phone over night. shipped from Bos-
ton TO New York by electric lines.
The coal supply Of one Of the large
environments in the Middle West is
now being assured by an arrange
ment with an electric line. By which
the congestion Of an important steam
road terminal is avoided
AN important function. which cleo
trio lines. both urban and inter
urban, can perform in conjunction
with the Food Administration. is in
the collection and distribution of food
products, first in the country-fr0m
the farmer: and second. in the city
between the wholesaler and the re-
taller Extensive experiments are
now being carried on with a container
system. which If successful. viii en-
able goods in quantities as high as
FIVE tons to be carried directly from
the producer to the store where Il is
sold, to the consumer.
This all means that new uses are
being found for the electric roads and
that more new uses viii be found.
There are. Of course. some engineer
ing problems 10 be overcome and diff
dculties may be encountered IN the
restrictions which some communities
have placed upon electric railway
operation That is why the assistance
OF the public is necessary. These are
war times and transportation agencies
must not be hampered in the render
ing Of service. am firmly convinced
that the public viii throw no obsta-
cles IN the way OF putting our roads
in such shape that they can render the
fullest service TO the government.
Electric railways are among the
largest users OF coal and the largest
employers OF labor. Coal and labor
are. with food, the things which above
all else must be conserved. in the IN
terest Of the nation We are willing
and anxious TO do oar part and the
effort Of every electric railway man
ager Of the country IS being exerted
70 effect economy In this eaort re
can I believe. look for the c0-opera-
ton Of the regulatory commissions,
both State and local and Of the pub
lie istelf Unnecessary service causes
waste Of fuel and waste OF labor. Il
means that Just SO much less o. each
VIII be available for other essential
war-winning purposes.
The Public Service Commission Of
Oregon. realizing this FACT, has order
ed an extensive cutting down Of serT-
ice in the city Of Portland Other
Commissions are acting On similar
lines / believe thaf re MIST al