The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-22
U. S. ENGINEERS
AIDING RUSSIAN
R.R. OFFICIALS
Commission Will Work For
Greater Efficiency in
Transportation
TO SUPPLY
FREIGHT CARS
Russians at Disadvantage
In Not Having Modern
Equipment

Moscow Aug. 22.-(Correspon-
dence Of The Associated Press.)-
John F. Stevens and his associates
on the American Railway commits
sion now visiting Russia for the pur-
pose of assisting the administration
OF the Russian railways in increas-
ng their efficiency have discovered
many ways in which transportation
may be speeded up on all Russian
lines without additional equipment.
The commission has advised the
United States government to sup
ply Russia with $500 more locomo-
tives and 10000 more freight cars as
soon as possible. However, IL will be
considerable time before this rolling
stock can be manufactured and ship
ped to Russia. The shortage of 5ot-
toms on both the Atlantic aud the
new rolling stock and additional
shops must be erected at Vladivostok
before such great Quantities of loco
motives and cars can be put together
speedily.
Meantine Russia must make the
most of its available rolling stock
and locomotive power and the Ameri-
can engineers are busily assisting the
Russian railway ofIieials in study
of the immediate problems.
Roadbeds Excellent.
The Russian roadbeds are in ex-
cellent condition. Virtually all the.
lines were well built originally and
the tracks have been kept up, chiefly
through the work of peasant women,
in spite of the shortage of labor
created by the heavy draft the war
has made upon the male population.
After travelling the full length of
the Trans-S Siberian line and inspect
ing many OF the important lines in
Central and Southern European Rus
sia the American engineers have
found that Russian railway men are
working at great disadvantage in not
having up-to-date equipment for
coaling. watering and cleaning loco
motives.
At nearly all stations in both Eur
opean and Asiatic Russia, engines are
watered by means OF eight-tnch pipes.
From twelve to twenty minutes Is
required for work which is accom-
plished in the United States in four |
OF five minutes. BY the installation |
o. tweIve-inch pipes this delay can
be eliminated.
Methods SLOW.
By the Russian methods twenty |
four hours is required TO clean loco
motive, coal 1t and get up steam |
again. Coal shutes are lacking and |
the fuel is transferred from piles TO |
the tender by means of steam shovels. |
Work that could be done in fye min |
ltes with modern coaling apparatus |
much time. Then the Rus
sian engine houses lack the hot !
water equipment necessary for the l
washing out Of boiler engines as soon /
Is the locomotive comes off its run. |
Engines are allowed to cool before |
hey are washed. Then the boilers
are washed with cold water. Steam i
must then be raised in a stone cold /
1oiler before the locomotive Is ready 1
% 90 on It's run. With modern coal 4
ng apparatus and facilities for
abundant hot water to
cleanse boilers. the American rail-
Ways coal and clean an engine in
cur hours. q saving OF twenty
hours over the Russian system.
Facilities Poor.
OH Is used as fuel for locomotives
n southern Russia but, in Siberia
md northern European Russia, coal
md wood are the fuel. The facilities
or loading wood are also bad and
,lans are under way for improve
nents in the system. Water Is sup
lied to passenger cars hy means of
luckets at most railway stations.
Few stations have the hose necessary
or watering cars in a hurry. These
ave not been required because en-