Evening star., 1917-09-23
Travelling Teacher
for Lighthouses.


1oI AtAouseS. in operation an
arrangement for a travelling school
teacher to visit the outlying light sta
tions in the state. where school facilf-
ties for children are lacking, to give in
struction to the children at the sta
tions.
The state pays the salary of the
teacher. who is transported to and from
the light stations by lighthouse tenders
nishes books. The keepers, however,
are obliged to provide subsistence for
the teacher at their own expense. one
teacher a present covers fourteen light
An objection is the short period spent
by the teacher at each station, which Is
only about two weeks. 1t is hoped this
condition may be improved by the state
providing more teachers.
Taking the lighthouse service as
whole. it is inevitable from the nature
of the service that many light stations
are situated where school facilities are
not accessible. Under existing law it is
not practicable for the lighthouse serv
ice to take any direct measures to-
ward the education of the children of
the keepers. The matter is given care
full attention, however, and the regula-
tions of the service provide that in the
event of vacancies permitting transfer
to light stations convenient to school
facilities preference must be given to
keepers and assistant keepers having
children between the ages of five and
sixteen years who have not now access
to schools. provided they desire such
transfer and their service and quail
fications entitle them to it.
Moreover. when other conditions are
equal. inspectors are instructed not to
recommend for appointment or transfer
to stations not accessible to schools
keepers having children of school age
unless such keepers give assurance that
they will make proper provision for the
education of their children. Since this
regulation went into effect, 1T is under
stood. there has been an Improvement
as to the number of stations where
children Of school age are without edu-
cational facilities. Inspectors are re-
quired at stations not accessible to
schools to inquire from time to time
into educat ational conditions for the chill
will lead to their suitable education,
consulting, when desirable, with state
and local educational authorities.
New and pressing problems have con-
fronted those who are responsible for
the commerce of
War Problems of the country since
the beginning of
pean experience at the outbreak of the
war illustrated the absolute necessity
for keeping the country's railroad serv-
ice in condition as near to that of
normal times was possible.
Thanks to this lesson, to the work of
the railroad committee of the Council
Of National Defense and the realization
of it's supreme Importance, the railroads
have been able to large extent to
meet unusual problems of transporta-
tion and to avoid serious blockades.
Skilled railroad men formed one of
the first units to be sent to France, and
the American engineering commission
is now in Russia. The operating eff
cheney of the railroads must be main
tained for successful mobilization,
but there will have to be a thorough
economiZing on rolling stock. While
passenger service itself should be kept
commensurate with the needs of the
travelling public. it is the belief of those
railroad men who are working hand in
hand with government officials at this
time that some of the luXuries of trav-
ell. such parlor, chair, observation
and lounging cars, will have to be cut
down.
All special excursion trains and local
accommodation trains poorly patron
lied may have to be reduced for the
duration of the war. The authorities
controlling transportation have an i'm
portant function to perform in fixing
the priority of freight. War industries
must have the first call on cars for
shipment and for transporting raw ma
terial. Industry will feel the pressure
of war here as scarcely anywhere else.
ana much criticism and many hard
ships are bound to occur. With limited
rolling stock, business a usual in all
branches is scarcely possible
The Interstate Commerce Commission
has created division of car service to
deal with the movement, distribution.
exchange. Interchange and return of
freight cars. Complaints and commu-
nications regarding car service received
by the commission is handled through
the new division
The carriers have appointed local car
service committees at twenty-five
points throughout the country, and
similar committees of shippers have
been appointed at the same points. the
aim being to secure harmony and CO.
operation between shippers and car
riers. The commission has suggested
that these committees should meet
jointly where necessary to adjust local
affairs any irreconcilable differences
which arise may be referred to the car
riers' commission on car service or
the division of car service of the COM |
mission for adjustment.