Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-04
HEAVY CHRISTMAS TRAFFIC
ANTICIPATED BY RAILWAYS
ScabOnr1i Air Line President Urges
Traffic Managers To Prepare
for Rush.
AR REPAIR WORK PUSHED
Harahan Asks Railroad Officers to
Appeal to Public to Get Holiday
Packages Underway Iiarly-Camps
VIII Increase Shipping Movement.
IBy Associated Prcssl

NORFOLK. November 3.--Anticipat-
ing the busiest Christmas season trans
portation lines in tho Southeast ever
have faced W. j. Harahan. president
Of tho Scaboard Air Line Railway aud
chairman of the Southeastern Depart
ment of the Hallway War Board Ser
vice, has forwarded to railroad officials
IN his department Il circular letter urS-
ing them to make all preparations to
handle the traffic. In the nine States
OF the Southeastern Department are
located more troop camps than in amy
other department of the War Board Ser
vice, and the movement of an cnur-
nous tonnage of Christmas shipments
TO and from them is expected.
To render efficient service, Mr.. iara-
han declares cvc"v available baggage.
express and mail car must be pressed
into service. and suggests that all
equipment OF the class required be put
in condition and released from repair
shops by December /. or earlier If
practicable.
In order that delivery of Christina :
packages may he made before Drccu-
Der %. Mr.. IIarahan urges that rail
road officials appeal TO the public to
make shipments earlier than is custo-
y u.
This not only will BE- appreciated by
the government and the public. he de-
rlarcs, but will prevent disappointment
to the scndcrs and recipients because
of delay in delivery.
The Southeastern Department.. COM
prisinE the States of North and South
Carolina Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi. louisiana Tennessee. Ar
kansas and the coast defcnses Of New
Orleans and Galveston. contains nine
National Guard camps. three National
Army environments, three reserve Of
Hrcrs' training camps. one quartcrmas-
icrs' and one increment camp.
URGES PUBLIC TO SEND
CHRISTMAS GIFTS EARLY
Mr.. Harahans letter follows:
II beg to call your attention to
prospective increase in number, amour,
and weight OF Christmas packages To
be transported by the railroads this
season by reason OF the very large
number of troops in the various CAMPS
and the large number Of people in the
southeastern Department as a result
thereof.
AS YOU arc aware. there arc more
men away from home and family in
the military and naval service OF the
United States than ever before In our
history. all of whom will probably re-
cciNc Christmas parcels Of various
weights. This enormous amount of
mail express matter. etc. will - of
course. he in addition to the large
volume Of business ordinarily handled
during this period, and Of greater con-
sequence than ever before on account
Of conditions prevailing due to the war
ITO take care of this traffic will re-
quirc every available baggage. express
and mail car, and il is suggested, in
fact urged, that everything possible be
done to render suitable for service
every piece of equipment of the class
required TO handle this business. That
same may he gotten off repair tracks
by the LIST of December or earlier il
practicable.
To further help the situation il js
suggested that every means Of publicity
he used to induce tho public to shin
their Christmas packages a week or
ten days earlier than usual. to insure
sam" reaching their destination before
the holiday. thus avoiding disappoint