The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-21
Santa Fe Prepared to Transport
Both Soldiers and FOOdstuffs.
f. c. Fox Says Road viii Han
die Everything offered"
GET ALL THE CARS NEEDED
He Believes HOstilities Would
Relieve Freight Congestion.
Cars Held i'm the East Would
Be Returned to Owners.

If this country is suddenly plunged
into war, as is threatened in the Ger
man crisis. western railroads are ready
to play their part. Fred c. Fox. sem
eral manager for the Santa Fe rail-
way, said today his road will be able
to take everything offered by the
government" in both passengers and
freight. Statements from operating
officials of other roads practically
duplicate his assertion. j. NJ. Conneli,
general passenger agent for the Santa
Fe, said the roads could furnish pass
senger equipment to move as many
troops as the situation should demand
! The railroad situation this week IS
very different from last week when
a strike shadow threatened the ma
TONS mobilization facilities 1t is also
believed that in case of war the freight
car situation will be much relieved. To
quote Mr.. Fox. THE key to that ten
sion is in sixty miles of the Atlanuc
coast"
An enormous amount of loaded
freight cars are being held in Phlia-
delphia, Boston, New York and other
eastern ports and manufacturing
cities Factories in these cities are re-
ceiving a greater volume of orders
than ever in their history AID are run
ming anywhere from six months to a
year behind time on deliveries very
few plants have enlarged their ca
pacity.
Pile Up Raw Materials.
Despite this fact, they are ordering
raw materials as they receive orders
for finished products and are unable
to unload The loaded cars consigned
to them until the deliveries are out of
the way Because of the Atlantic ship
ping situation thousands of loaded
cars are being held because ship own
| ers refuse to accept the cargoes.
Should war he declared the govern
10 OFFICIALS
here will Undoubtedly take ever a
| lot~of the freight, congested in the
east. for its own use
More attention to the protection of
American and allied shipping on the
high seas which would undoubtedly
be given if this country joins the lat
ter against the Central Powers would
also result in relief or the situation.
as ship owners would be more in
clned to accept cargoes All that
would enable eastern lines to return
the large number of western line cars.
which are in their possession to the
owners.
Roads Important in War.
The part to be played by railroads
in war time is not a small one. They
will be called upon to move troops
rapidly and efficiently Mr.. Council
of the Santa Fe believes Pullman and
tourist cars can be furnished without
much trouble. Even if the American
troops are forced to ride in day
coaches, in the day time, they will
have received 100 per cent better
handling than those in Europe where
men are being transported on freight
cars, fiat cars and, in some cases, in
stone and coal cars. Western roads
will be called upon to move to the
east the enormous amount of food
stuffs produced by the west only, for
use of the troops on the seaboard.
Raw materials for use in war by this
country would practically all come
from the middle and far west.