The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-10

Special l.I@irh thr Int'lIi;.nrrF.
WASH Nt;TON. II. e.. Sept. N.-lh-
formation gathered by the l&ailroaoS
War En 70! ru!,n:: ihc Glrsi four months
Of its existence. Indicates that the VOL
untary ict of the GJj railroads OF this
country in merging their competitive
activities for tn" period Of the war and
uniting in one continental system. has
not ur.N ma,ir the transportation prop :
lem presented by the war less cumber'
some 10 handle. but surer OF satlsfac-
tory solution.
In addition to welding into one loyal
army each and every ono Of the l,I'p.-
600 persons cmrl,yCd by ;he railroadS
from engine rIp""S Ia presidents
the generalization OF the nations car
riers has made i"'s*iOlc the most lntch.
Sive use OF very piece Of railrnau
equipment in tho country. II has also
facilitated the securing OF Invaluable
cooperation from the shippers and TN"
general public.
Some cuncrrt. instance VI what ma"
been accomplished through this cooper
alton OF the railroads. the shippers anu
the public since April 2lSt, when the
War board was rrcatcd. may be sum
married as follows:
The excess IF untitled car rcquisi-
monty called car shortage, has been
reduced 10 per cent. On April 3oth the
su-called car shortage amounted 10 49,
627. On June 30th. these figures hal
been cut to MAJ. On August lst the
excess OF untitled car acquisitions over
idle cars amounted to only 33.77b.
In the month nt May. freight trans
portatton service rendered by about -
per cent OF Class l roads. earnings OF
1000 900 or more) was lG.1 per CEN
In excess Of the service rendered in
1915. In that year, which was one OF
unusual activity. the freight service
rendered by the carriers was "a per cent
rreutcr than In 1916. SO tho carriers
have achieved the astounding feat or
adding to their freight service. in the
short space OF two years. ali amount
equal TO the freight traffic Of Great
Britain. France. Russia, Germany and
Austria combined
Approx imatcly, n0,000.0G0 miles OF
train service a year have been saved
BY the elimination OF all passenger
trains not essential to the most press
ing needs of the country. This redur-
ton NJ passenger service has released
hundreds Of locomotives and trnin
crews and cleared thousands Of miles
Of track thni arc absolutely needed III
the freight service for the transporta-
tion of necessities.
Freight congestion al many important
shipping points has been averted ny
promptly moving empty cars from one
railroad IL another irrespective OF
ownership. by ordering the adoption Of
This policy. which is brand new to
American railroad usage. the Railroads
War Bourd has moved 1890 empty
Districts
hav" been most needed.
Through the pooling Of lake coal and
lake ore, saving Of $4,000 cars in
moving these commodities alone has
been achieved.
4 further saving Of $4,000 cars has
been made possible by the pooling Of
Iidcwatcr coal Roth OF these pooling
projects were brought about by the
railroads War Eoard In collaboration
with the Committee on Coal Production
of the Council OF National Defense.
By regulating the movement Of grain
for eXnort the number Of cars ordt-
narily required for this service has
been reduced. despite mn abnormal cX-
port Increase this year, 75.6S2.028
bushels of wheat. corn. barley and oats
being shipped 10 the allies from May
lst to July 14th.
This business was so handed that
there were no delays or no blocking OF
facilities at either the grain elevators
or the seapurts.
Although the figures on the Intensive
londine Of freight cars arc not complete
'as vet Il sufficient number Of reports
have been received from the 81 local
committees of the War board TO show
that commercial bodies aud individual