Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-23
GEN. HARRIES WILL
STAY ON OMAHA JOB
To Spend Time Working Out
Coast Defense Plans for
the Entire Country.
MAKES MAP OF SEA LINE

"While my work will take me away
from Omaha a great deal during thu
next year, l want you to say for mt
that this city is to continue to be my
home" was the assertion of Genera
Harries of the electric light company
who has returned from the east. Con
tinuing, General Harries said:
you know that | am chairman Of
that department of the American
Railway association that in conncc.
ton with the national council, fed
eral organization, is working out a
plan for national coast defense. Fol-
months | will be engaged in this work
and owing to its magnitude ii is not
probable that any large portion of
my time will be spent in Omaha or in
any one place.
The work of the department of
which ! am chairman has to do with
the entire coast line of the United
States, extending from Maine to Flor
ida, along the Gulf OF Mexico and up
the Pacific coast from Mexico to
British America. Every mile of this
coast line will be mapped with a
view to its defense and while large
number of men will be employed it
can readily be seen that it is some
thing that is going to take time.
Seeks Weak Spots.
an mapping the coast line OF the
United States we take into consd-
Grafton every harbor and every vul-
nerable point at which an attack
could be made from the sea side. Co.
operating with the federal organiza-
ton, it is probable that the mapping
will show the character of defense
best adapted to the locality and the
manner of construction.
This mapping proposition takes in
to consideration one of the greatest
Il not the greatest, transportation prop
psitlon ever conceived Scattered
along the United States coast line
there are innumcrable cities and towns
that are reached by electric, but not
by steam roads. When We get through
with our work, our report will show
Just what IS necessary to put these
points OF vantage, in case of war, with
the steam trunk lines of the country
in order that men, munitions and sup
plies could be handled into them with
the least possible delay In securing
this data there are many things that
will have to be considered. We in
many instances will have to figure on
heavier road beds and steel in order
that without breaking bulk, consign-
mentS may be transferred from the
steam to the electric lines. We will
have to figure on enlarged terminal
facilities, changes i'll overhead con-
struction and thousands of details.
However, when we are through,
we feel that we will have evolved a
system that will enable the throwing
OF a train from any interior point to
any station on any Of the coasts in
short order and on a schedule that
at this time would seem impossible"
General Harries was in New York
City when the news of the break with
Germany was received and inside Of
thirty minutes after the newspaper ex-
tras were on the street, the entire city
seemed to be one mass of huttering
flags. Said the general;
Flags seemed TO break out from
every building along the streets and
from every conceivable point Staid
business men rushed into stores,
grabbed up bundles OF flags and rush
ing out on the street, they distributed
them to passcrsby People cheered
and patriotism was apparent on every
hand.
while don't think the people OF
the east are more patriotic than those
of the central west. they are much
more demonstrative and right now
they are showing this to a wonderful
extent