Evening star., 1917-11-17

months Of 1916, an increase Of 1S per cent,
and $4,000 more carloads OF bituminou1
and Ignite coal than in the same sir
months Of 1916. also an increase Of 18 pef
cent.
Railroad men said this paragraph prob
ably had been inserted because Of the
place the blame for coal shortage on car
shortage. There has been a car shortage.
not only for carrying coal, but for carry
ing every other product. Despite this
more freight and also a much higher per-
centage of passenger traffic than they did
last year.
Railroad men blame the coal shortage
not on the railroads, nor on the produc-
ton. but on the boarding by public util.
tiles in some cities and by big manufac-
turers at osAer points 1t was stated to-
day by railroad man that piles of from
100000 to 100000 tons have been dis
covered in plants along main railroad
lines. which could be served with daily
consignments Of coal.
First Of frank Statements"
The statement of Mr.. Harrison IL the
hrst OF a series Of such frank state-
ments to be made by the railroads war
, poard from time to time, in order that
the public may come to realize the real
seriousness of the railroad situation.
This crisis IT was stated. must be faced
as other wartime problems. In a spirit
OF cooperation.
NO effort to defend the existence of the
4, railroads war board is made because
as one railroad man stated. the board
is not seeking%o hold job. but to
serve the country. 1t was organized
lise Gays after the United States enter
ed the war. eliminate competitfon"
ana to "mobilizssthe TRANSFORMATION fs
ciities OF the country. because at that
| Time 1t was realized what the war would
lnean IN respect to heavy demands on
carriers. But even the railroad men
dfd not dream of how great and how
was stated
Mr; Harrison referred to the way in
which the demands for carving sun
pres ana recruits to the cantonments
was met Later figures than he gave
emphasize the tremendous scope of this
oask. accomplished without a single ac-
cloent and without any undue DELAYS
IL is regarded by railroad men as one OF
history.
Up to pm. November il National
Army arrivals at cantonments and
, camps numbered 459735: National Army
movements to cantonments and to other
points. 112.001: National Guard depar-
lures. Sss.94l. and Regular Army. Navy
ana miscellaneous departures, 3o4.476
making total of 1,2l9,147 passengers
handled by the railroads in Connection
with military mobilization
Big Demand for Cars
Each Of the cantonments required
| ABOUT 5000 cars to transport supplies
such as building material and CLOTH
| Ing, and 500 cars are required daily for
the food transported to ALL the thirty,
two cantonments Moreover. thesa
cantonments are located Without ref
erence to railroad facilities ard thir.
| teen Of the thirty-two are on; one rail.
| road-the Southern
| The situation. from the railroad
mems viewpoint. is summarized in a
| news bulletin from the railroads war
| board, as follows: -
| 1T has been said that this is now a
railroads war The railroads of France
| saved that country in the battle of the
Marne American railroads will pre-
serve it.
Now we are approaching the peak
OF the wartime freight movement. Cars
and locomotives which have been un-
dergolng severe service must be made
to do suh more: shippers must CO.
operate still more effectively; railroads.
| traffic and operating experts must be
on the job every minute