The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-28

washington. Dec. 2S.-As the first
practical step in the governments op-
Grafton of railroads which began at
noon today. Director General McAdOo
drafted the railroad war board into
the government service to work out
plans for unified operation and sub
nit them to him for approval.
The railway heads told Secretary
McAdoo that. in their opinion, one of
the first things necessary to be done Is
a denial OF transpOrtatiOns to non-es-
sential commodities The most eftl-
cient coordination of transportation
facilities the / ilroad executives today
told Secretary McAdoo will not put the
railroads in a position where they can
handle all the traffic offered
Washington. Dec. 2S.-At noon to-
day the approximately 25Os000 miles
Of American railway systems silently
merged into one great continental
chain for the winning of the war.
Under President Wilson's decision
the great event, regarded by many as
the opening of a new epoch IN govern
mtnt operation and control of public
utilities, passed by without any formal
ceremony.
Director General McAdoo was con-
ferring at the time with the members
OF the railroads war board and Rob
ert ). Lovett. chairman of the prior
ity shipment committee. The mem
bers of the war bOard-all railroad
executives who have been working
within the limitations of law to do
what the government itself now pro-
poses to accomplish. pledged their
<Suppurt to the government admins
tri.tioD as has practically every rail
road man in the country. Orders for
the actual unificatiun of lines for COM
mru use of facilities and equipment
which are expected to raise the freight
jam Immediately will be the first re-
sui.
10 Work Out Plan.
At the conclusion of the conference
with the railroad heads McAdoo an
uoUnced he had called on the mem
bers Of the railroad war board to work
out a general plan of operation.
The war board will continue as the
operating body in charge Of the coun-
try $ roads. 1t will be assisted by the
numerous committees thruout the
country including the operating com
mittee of eastern railroads headed by
A. w Thompson of the Baltimore &
Ohio
Director General McAdoo will issue
no orders or directions for the i'm
mediate present. but will wait recon-
mendations of the war board before
taking any measures to clear the con-
gestion choking railroad terminals
and tracks in the east
Whatever can be done to make the
roads more efficient" said Mr.. Nc
Adoo. will be done as soon as we
find out what is necessary"
Personnel of Rail Board.
The following five railroads ex-
ecutives, each a leader in the business
of transportation, Will work out the
plans for welding 25O.OO0 miles of
system for winning the war:
Fairfax Harrison. president of the
Southern railway
julius Kruttschnitt, chairman of the
board of the Southern Pacific.
Samuel Rea, president of the Penn
sylvania
Hale Holden president of the Bur
lington.
Howard Elliott, of the New Haven.
May Not Want Jobs!
There appeared some doubt today
as to whether the railroad executives
desired to continue the railroad war
board. Fairfax Harrison, chairman,
said it was a purely voluntary organi-
Zation, costing the roads 100000 a
year to maintain.
Asked what would be the practical
accomplishment of the pooling of rail-
road traffic. Mr.. Harrison replied:
Traffic pooling is a relic of the
dark ages of railroad operation and
l do not know whether it can be sue
cessfully accomplished now. All the
idllrOadS nave more tra1flc now than
they can possibly haul. They believe
they are operating the roads as eff
ciently as can be done under govern
ment or any other sort of control"
The financial question was touched
but lightly in the conference The
railroad executives described the situ-
alton to Secretary McAdoo and told
4 him just what they need in the way of
government guarantees and encour-
agement of security issues. Operating
problems were gone into at length
The railroad executives promised their
fullest cooperation in carrying out
any measures the director general may
think necessary
Optimistic Over Pooling.
The railroad heads were visibly in a
better frame of mind after the confer
cnce than they were before Talking