Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-28
MASTER COG IN THE
EFFICIENCY MACHINE

Council OF National Defense has issued
q statement to the effect that the railroad
situation is the weakest link in the stor.
age problem.
A railroad can stagger along for a
time under a load far heavier than II is
designed to bear. But IL this goes too
far, signs of congestion begin to appear,
and then, II nothing radical is done, an
actual tie-up ensues. Under such
'tie-up" railroad can ''go out" almost
as completely man breaks under
nervous prostration. The level of eff
cheney would be reached IL it could be
arranged that each of the myriad arti-
cles being purchased by the Government
for the army and navy could be handled
once, and only once, by the railroads. To
bring this about nothing should be put
into a railroad car except for Immediate
and direct haul, either, first, to place
where 1t Is to be consumed or otherwise
utilized. or. second. to the seaboard prior
to transshipment across seas. 1t Is
quite common military and industrial
practice for most munitions to make
three, four or more railroad trips before
they reach the consumer or the hold of
an ocean-going ship. Sometimes goods
are sent to intermediate distribution de-
pots or to places of assembly. requiring
additional and frequently unnecessary
railroad hauls. Sometimes these extra
haulings are simply the result of accident
or chance. But every extra and avoid
able hauling. even where mileage is not
increased. will have to be cut out II we
are to use the railroads as an efficient
part OF our war machine.
In time of stress artificial pressure
ceases to exert a decisive influence and
natural laws in the transportation field
as elsewhere, insist on recognition. There
Is no room now for preferential rate
making and all the other professional
routine that favors one locality over
another and subordinates natural advan-
tages to the exigencies of influence" or
formulated competition.
The Government will not hereafter per-
NIT such wholesale wastage of railroad
energy as is evident in the haul Of foreign
shipments through Philadelphia to New
York, there to be further handled on
barges for distribution. Not only that,
but the Government is virtually insisting
that war manufacturing be done in the
vicinity of raw materials. in territory
where the several industries fit into one
another. Comprehensive preparedness
means a maximum of results with a
minimum of transportation.
The necessities Of this situation are
met by the Philadelphia territory to an
exceptional degree. We assert a primacy
and there is virtually no second. This is
recognized by financiers all over the
country, many of whom have turned al
ready to this section to put into execution
their vast plans of development. General
Goethals put his finger on Philadelphia
because here, and here alone, he was GER
tain to get the ideal conditions he sought.
The railroads themselves have realized
the folly of way y-stationing" PhiladeL
phia They, too, under the drive of neces-
sity, have begun to concentrate on this
territory. So only can they be an efficient
part of the great war machine.
Young man. come to Philadelphia! We
shall need a minimum of $4,000 additional
skilled workmen in the near future;
maybe double that number. There will
be tens of thousands of new people to
be housed and clothed and fed. The
sums appropriated for municipal improve
.ments, which seemed huge two years
ago, appear only ordinary now. Millions
more will be needed. Every citizen must
share In the prosperity of the new era
Just as every citizen must bear his part
OF the burden. We plan the best transit
facilities in the world, the best port facili
ties, the best living conditions and the
most inspiring leadership. We are In
fine to get all OF these things and gel
them in a hurry. The "Acres of Dia
monds" are here. in this territory and
lucky is the individual VINO makes thai
( eact the slogan Of his purpose now.