The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-12-27
BEST AVAILABLE PLAN.
Nearest Approach to Solution Of Ills
Possible.

Nearest Approach to Solution OF Tile
Possible.
Washington, Dec. 27.-The railroad
situation has presented one Of the
greatest problems that have arisen In
the prosecution Of the war. Govern.
ment control, although not offering an
entire solution, will, many officials be-
lievc, go far toward relieving many
transportation ills.
Wars. demands ON railroad facilities
were foreseen early by railroad offic-
ials md five days after. war was de-
clared the heads Of the principal sys-
TENS met in Washington and formed
q committee Of, five rail chiefs to d.
rect the roads, as nearly as possible
% one continental system. The five
men named were called the railroads
war board they were: Fairfax Harris.
on, of the Southern railway, chair
man; Howard Elliott, of the New Hav-
en-, Samuel Rea, of the Pennsylvania,
Hale Modem Of the Burlington, and
Julius Kruttschnitt of the Southern
Pacific. IT, f&, gE
IL, b. Much More Traffic.
The board has co.0rdinated railroad
operation that the roads are said to
be carrying Is per cent more traffic
than they ever moved before. As war
preparations increased traffic be-
came constantly heavier and month
ago the war board named general
operating committee for eastern rail
lines and announced that it would pool
all trackage and facilities, including
cars and locomotives.
Meanwhile traffic had grown to
such proportions that the roads could
not handle It, and In the east many
terminals were congested with freight
The war board has declared that the
only way to meet the situation, either
under government or private opera
ton, is to deny transportation to non
essential products.
The war board, It Is said, does not
oppose government operation, nor It
is said, do the brotherhood chiefs.
yts Guiding Policy.
One of the new directors guiding
policies will be the elimination of
duplication and resultant waste in
operation. Mr.. McAdoo is known to
believe that hundreds of millions of
dollars can be saved the railroads and
the American public by pooling traf-
fic and facilities, and that ultimately
the greatest benefit will accrue to the
railroads themselves
It is considered improbable that a
large department with many employees
win be created for the railroad admin
istration very soon. The railroad war
board already has quarters here and
the secretary probably will function
largely through 1t.
Edward Pennington summed up
well the position Of his colleagues in
the railway world when he said that
II government operation of railroads
.'pleases the president of the United
states 1t pleases me-" The declara.
ton of J. NJ. Hannaford that the roads
will do all they can to carry out the
wishes, of the president made it clear
that no envy will stand in the way Of
the railway officials to make the plans
L, Secretary, McAdoo successful.
Louis w. Hill said:
"When !, read Sunday that the gov
eminent might take over the railways
and that Secretary McAdoo was un
der consideration for the position Of
director-general, / wired to Mr.. Nc
Adoo telling him that was anxiously
awaiting verification Of the report
Everybody connected with the Great
Northern is happy to hear Of his ap
uointment. This railroad will do ev
erything possible to support him and
President Wilson In operating the
roads. I'm sure Secretary McAdoo !.