The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-06-18
TROOP TRAINS
 TO TAKE PLACE
 OF PASSENGERS
Bay State Railroad Heads Explain Big Cut in
 Service


 Service
 
 Representatives of the railroads in Massachusetts and members of inter- ested semi-public organizations ap- peared before the Public Service Com mission yesterday in response to a call for a. conference and hearing on the proposed curtailment of railroad pas senger service in the state The Mas sachusetts Committee on Public Saftey was represented by Henry B. Endfcott, executive secretary, and B. W. Long ley and Charles s. Pierce, general so- licitor of the Boston & Maine, explain ed the attitude of that railroad in re- stricting its passenger service.
 Chairman Macleod of the commits sion stated, in opening the conference, that it was the purpose of the commis- sion first to get the viewpoint of the railroad officials and others with re- spect to the necessity for the service curtailment, after which, if requested, it will listen to such protests as the public may offer, the date for such a hearing to be determined later. MT. Pierce said in part:
 Unless the public is prepared to havef the country suffer by reason of failure to move this traffic the rail- road must make room for it by re- duction of passenger service and it is attempting to do this by eliminating trains which carry few passengers or whose patrons can at moderate fncon- venience avail themselves of other trains. It has prepared a tentative plan for such eliminations and has giv- en notice in advance so that the se- lectiops which it's officials have made can be discussed and criticized. The public is entitled to give it's own views as to the details of such plan and the officials of the railroad will be glad to receive such detailed criticisms. Already many have been received and the tentative schedule has been rear ranged to meet some of them. The management cannot believe, however, that the public as a whole will disap- prove the general outline of the plan and refuse to submit to some personal Inconvenience if the interests of the people as a whole are served.
 "It is well known that the unusual conditions created by the war have increased transportation rates by wa ter from 400 to 500 per cent. in the last two or three years, and this of course has had tendency to reduce the transportation of coal by water to New England. In 1916 this com pany received about 660,000 tons less by water than tini 1915, but received by rail 1,67O,000, or 4S per cent. more tons; the increase in total consmup- ton in 1916 over 1915 being due to increased industrial activity. This ad- ditional rail movement together with the general increase in industrial traf- fife, tends to- overtax the transporta- ton facilities and the result is em- bargoes on the movement of freight into New England through it's western gateways. ~
 A concentration camp for troops in the Northwestern Military Department is to be established near Aver. It is estimated there will be from 30,0o0l to 10000 troops brought together at that camp. This means that where today the population is negligible there will be established city comparable with Fitchburgh, Taunton or Salem. equipment, and transportation. These These men must be supplied with food, needs are immediate. not imaginary. The capacity of the Boston & Maine for this government traffic must be increased at once.
 r saving fuel MT. Pierce pointed out that the annual fuel requirements of the Boston & Maine are approximately L. 60O,000 tons. There is about three months supply on hand. .sThe propos- ed reduction in passenger train service would result in 8 saving of substan- tially 45,000 train miles per week, which based on the average fuel con- sumption of passenger locomtives would mean a saving of 1900 gross tons a week, or at the rate of nearly 100, 900 tons a year. This fuel would be available for the transportation of traffic for which there is a greater necessity"
 Mir Pierce then went into the de- tails of the effect of the existing la bor shortage on the repair work of the railroad and pointed out the need of releasing men now in passenger ser- vice for other lines of railroad work, especially since the coming draft will undoubtedly make some further in roads into the working force of the road.
 "It is the duty of every patriotic individual to do his part toward suc- cessful prosecution of, the war, and this will necessitate in many ways great r. Pierce. '.No4one questions the duty of parents to submit without complaint to military service for their sons. No man questions his duty to pay added income taxes, and all kinds of emer- gency revenue. No one questions his duty to reduce his unnecessary ex- penditures and make savings with which Liberty bonds can be purchased All of these things are necessary for the successful prosecution of the war. So also is personal inconvenience.
 sIt is equally true that it the duty of good citizens to assist others that they may avoid unnecessary expendi- tures The Boston & Maine Railroad, therefore, asks the public to assist in the adoption. of some plan for the elimination of train service which it may enjoy; but which is really not in the interests of the general public.
 Unless the government and the public give the railways the assistance they need to carry them through the present emergency, the railroads will not be able to render the service which the government and the public must have to carry them through the emer- gency.''