Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-10-06
PATRIOTIC COOPERATION OF OUR
RAILROADS.
scientific American.)

We may boast mat the united States
has more railroad mileage than all of Eu-
rope put together. but we are apt to over
look the fact that all of Europe which is
between the fighting lines could
be lost within the valley of the Mississippi.
Considering our vast area. We do not be-
gin to have the mileage Of Great Britain,
of France or of Germany.
When the war broke out between the
United States and Germany our railroad
conditions were in a badly tangled state.
Freight was piling up at our terminals
faster than it could be moved, ears were
tied up for weeks in our freight yards. and
there was "A serious shortage for ser,ic
on the road. The prospects were hardly
encouraging, for 1T was realized that with
our entry into the war there would be
an enormous increase in the demand for
transportation. Factories would be OPP
Grating AZ. the height of their capacity,
there would be enormous shipments and
extensive travelling from one part Of the
country to the other, and, above all, there
would be huge bodies Of troops TO be
|IiuNtu uitlf VI tnftutf ~ iutiI ann
equipment and supplies. II was but rea-
sonable to expect that our railroads would
be unequal TO the demands of the war, and
that our preparations for active service
abroad would be tied up indefinitely by
the lack OF railroad facilities at home.
Shortly after the declaration of war a
railroads war board was organized TO
handle the situation and secure the neces-
sary cooperation between the many diff
ferent railroads of the country. A vast
force of l,150,0OD men, including all per
sons employed by railroads, from the
presidents down to the engine wipers. were
consolidated into a single army of pa
triots willing 10 forget private competi-
ton and To devote themselves to the needs
of their country.
A report has just been issued by this
board showing what has been accom-
plished IN the last four months. The ear
shortage has been reduced 20 per cent.
all passenger trains that could he dis
pepsed with without serious inconvenience
were taken off the schedule. with the re-
~ th4A Atht a otth a afihk vi ~
proximately d 1000 900 miles OF train
service per year. Freight congestion has
been relieved by moving empty ears from
one railroad To another. irrespective of
ownership. Under the direction of the
board 1890 empty freigh, ears have
been moved into districts where they were
most needed. There has been a large saw
49, &C ..r1 .k~o..l a., ~.-I.-- -, - -
of ore. Although there has been an an
normal movement of grain this year. the
number of ears employed IN this service
has actually been reduced. The coopera-
ton of shippers has been sought: they
have been urged to make one ear do the
work Of Two As a result the average
carload of flour has been increased from
1920 pounds in 1916 to- 81 1923 pounds
this year. New Orleans sugar ears used
TO carry only 10000 pounds on the aver
age, while now this load has been doubled.
IL i the exception TO find a car in these
days that is loaded below the marked ga
pacity.
In the transportation of troops our rail
roads are called upon 10 move a million
men from nearly 5000 points TO the thirty
two training camps of the National Army
and National Guard by October 20. Elk
perienced railroad men have been sent TO
every c~antonment. not only 10 aid the
quartermasters IN maintaining the neces-
sary military supplies, but also to assist
in the intelligent handling Of construction
materials in the building Of these canton
ments.
The report of the railroads wal board
i an inspiring bit of reading. III furnishes
u an example of American adaptability.
u shows that patriotic cooperation can at
tam "A degree of efficiency that had been
considered impossible except under direct
government ownership and operation.