The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-30
SANTA FE WILL
FORM A CO. OF
R. R. ENGINEERS
To Be a Part of Western Rail-
road Regiment.
Assist Government in All
Transportation Problems.
SIX ROADS ARE IN ON PLAN
Most of Santa Fe Men To Be
Recruited Here.
All Who Enlist Will Have Jobs
Held for Them.
All Who Enlist Will Have Jobs
Held for Them.

Assisted by five other western rail-
ways, including two Kansas lines, S.
NJ FELTON,, president of the Chicago
& Great Western railway, has
launched the formation of military
railway regiment to assist the army
by the construction and operation of
railways in connection with military
movements, it was officially an
nounced today The new organiZa
ton will consist of a company of 1874
men from each of the following rail-
roads: The Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe, the Chicago. Rock Island &, Pa
cific, the Illinois Central. the Chicago
Great Western, the Chicago North
Western and the Chicago, Milwaukee
& st. Paul.
Notices to the effect that the regi-
ment is being organized were sent
out from the office of +. c. Fox, gen.
eral manager here for the Santa Fe,
to employees of that road a few days
ago. Fox's office is handling details
of the organization of the Santa Fee
company and has asked that applica-
tions for enlistment be sent to the
general manager. 1t was announced
this morning that several queries from
employees for more information have
already been received. The project,
it was officially stated. has the ap-
prevail of the war department and the
regiment will be a part of the en-
gineers' reserve. subject to training
for period of fifteen days each year.
Enlist for Four Years.
The men are enlisted for a term of
four years. The railroads will give
the men leave of absence for the
training period.
The purpose of the organization is
20 provide citizens reserve from the
various railways fitted by civilian oc-
cupation to perform duties of military
railway troops.
The special duties of these railway
troops when called out by the presi-
dent in time of war will be to con-
struct and operate any strictly mill
tary railroads that may be required,
to reconstruct and operate railways
which may be captured on fC reign soil.
or in case of the invasion of the United
States involving the capture or de-
struction of American railways, to re-
construct such railways as soon as
armies and to operate them until such
time as it may be possible to restore
their normal commercial operations.
Duties of Companies.
Each company will be expected to
be capable of taking over a section
of railroad of approximately 100 miles
in length and to operate it in the same
lIldhIi0I that II IIllSllL the WDIh
of a division on lis own line. The en-
gineering officers of each unit are also
expected to be prepared to handle ex-
peditiously the construction of any
lines that military operations may
necessitate. Those enlisting become
members of the United States engineer
enlisted reserve corps, while those
commissioned as officers are admitted
to the United States engineer Officers
reserve corps as provided for in the
national defence act of June 8, 1916.
Those desiring to Mist must be
between the ages of Is and As, must
he citizens of the United States or must
have declared their intentions to be-
come so.
When enough applications are re-
ceived to form a company here. an
army officer will come to Topeka and
organize the Santa Fe company, it
was said today. 1t is believed that the
majority of the men in the company
will be Topekans because of the Santa
Fe's large number of trained en-
ployes here-the kind of men needed to
form the regiment.
Formation of Companies.
simultaneously with the entrance of
the United States into the war, steps
were taken to form the regiment
Each railway is furnishing one COM
pany of which the captain will be
division superintendent, the lieutenants
a chief dispatcher. an engineer main
tenance of way, a road foreman of en-