Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-12
RAILROADS PRODUCING
GREATER EFFICIENCY
Their Hclp in Efforts to Win the
War Shown in Report of Rail-
road War Board.
HEADED BY FAIRFAX HARRISON
Great Reduction in Number OF
Freight Cars in Shops Awaiting
Repairs-Make Better Average of
Mileage Per Day.

Gratifying indications Of the extent
TO which the railroads of the United
states are making effective their effort
to produce greater transportation eff
cheney to aid In winning the war Is
shown by the report received yester-
day by the state Council of Defense
from Fairfax Harrison, president of
the Southern Railway Company and
chairman Of the railroads war board.
The board. organized at the request
OF the Council of National Defense.
held its first meeting on April 23. One
OF its first steps was to get the rail-
roads to agree that for the period OF
the war they should be operated by
the board as a single transcontinental
railroad system. eliminating all indi-
vidual and competitive activities. BY
comparing the figures for May, 1916,
with those Of May. 1917. the first full
month following the boards organiza-
ton. some estimate can be gathered
railroads.
Returns. compiled from railroads
having l73.lo5 miles Of line. show that
these lines in May last year gave SER
vice equivalent TO carrying 25.426.S45.-
OIL tons Of freight one mile. while this
year they carried 2o.522.S7o.IO9 tons
one mile, an increase of exactly lGl
per cent.
This great increase in service was
rendered with a very slight Increase
number OF freight locomotives in SER
vice in May last year was 24.362, while
this year the number was 24,4S3, an
increase of one-half of per cent
Last year in May there were l.S00.s42
freight cars in service: this year the
number was l.s33.o2l; an increase of
4-5 per cent
GREAT REDUCTION IN
NUMBER OF CARS IN SHOP
A distinct mark OF progress is the
great reduction in the number OF
freight cars in the shop awaiting
repairs. Last year in May there were
l3,l4T cars under. or awaiting repairs,
while this year only l04.0Gl were in
that condition. Locomotives in repair
or awaiting repairs las, year we're
1905. and in May this year. $500
reduction of 1913 per cent.
Last year. railroad locomotives ran
an average OF 65.s miles per day. while
this year they made 7l,3 miles. Freight
cars made an average OF 2s.3 miles Il
day in May last year. and this year
145 miles an increase Of per cent.
In the same period. the mileage of
cars moving empty was reduced by .
per cent. while the mileage of cars
moving under load was increased by
3.5 per cent.
MIR. Harrison says: The foregoing
figures appear all the more remarkable
when IL is realized that May, 1916. was
itself a month OF heavy traffic
New railroad equipment which can
be made in America is now being sent
TO the allies in Europe. The problem
of the railroads is 10 handle very
great increase in freight with virtually
no increase in cars, locomotives or
tracks. In that effort, according TO Mr..
Harrison. they are not only co-operat-
ing among themselves. but they are
receiving splendid support from the
public and the shippers.
Letters received from public service
commissions in all parts OF the coun-
try. including the States Of Louisiana
Texas. Kansas. Indiana. Tennessee. New
Jersey. Virginia, Massachusetts and
Michigan. indicate that most en-
couraging response Is being made TO
the recent plea Of the board urging. on
the part Of public authorities. CO.
operation with the railroads in a sus-
pension, during the period Of the war.
"of all efforts not designed to help
directly in winning the war"
Many public service commissions
have also pledged their support to the
railroads campaign TO make one car
do the work of two" by urging ship
pcrs to load cars to capacity and re-
duce delays in loading and unloading.