The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-29
MOVE TRAFFIC.
M M'AD00'S FIRST
RAILWAY ORDER
Quick Action to End Jam of
Freight: Enormous Econ.
Omies Planned.
POOLING LAWS SHELVED
Commerce and War Boards
Pledge Aid-One General
Federal Fund for All.
Special Despatch 10 The SrS.


WASHINGTON. Dec. 2s.-The first or
der OF Director-General OF Railroad ds
McAdoo went out to-day to the lines
Of the Government system OF railroa DIS.
This order was
"Move traffic by the most convenient
and expeditions routes"
With Government operation Of rail-
roads becoming an actuality at noon to-
day, the new Director-General moved
promptly and vigorously to relieve the
jam on the railways caused partly by
the legal restrictions the railways have
been operating under. These were the
Geographic instructions sent to the presi-
dents and directors OF all railroad COM
panies now embraced in the Govern
ment system:
Having assumed the duties imposed
upon me by and in pursuance OF the
proclamation Of the Iresiden. dated De-
cen,ber Is. 1917. YOU viii until other
wise ordered continue the opcratlon OF
Your road in conformity with said proc
'amation You are requested TO make
every possible effort TO increase eff
cheney and To move traffic by the most
convenient and expeditions routes.
u confidently count on your hearty
cooperation. 1t is only througi, united
effort. unselfish service and effective
work that this war can be won and
Americas future be secured
Pooling Law I'm scrap Heap.
The effect Of this order OF Mr.. Nc
Adoo was to consign to the scrap heap
one of the most important laws against
TRAFFIC pooling. This law permitted the
shipper to route his own freight To-
night the railroad trafic men through :
out the country are routing freight as
they see N in accordance with the pi-
iector's orders regardless Of the instruc-
tions Of shippers
. The officials are empowered and are
expected TO select the best possible route
for freight 10 move not only over their
own lines. but over all other lines This
was the first effect of the new regime
which is to bring about in time many
startling changes in the operating OF the
railroad systems
1'hat II VIII take some little time COM
pletely to unity the railroad lines of the
country was again empha sized to-day by
Mr.. McAdoo. Only the first start has
been made on the colossal operatinc
problem But again the outstanding fea :
ture Of the days railway developments
was the fact that the railway lines actu-
all are to he merged into one system
and that both in its financial and operat-
ing phases the problem s to He dealt
with on this basis. The merger Of rail-
way lines may be effected slowly TO
.,H..t. t.t. 1.,s Il
thc!ess.
War Boards Advice Asked.
While tho big problem o. unifica,icr *
being worked out Director ;eneral Nc
Adoo intends to address himself to the
more immediate problem OF relieving
Quickly if nossible the cougestrd centres.
He has asked the Railroad War Board.
which me; with him to-day for the Hrst
time. to consider this problem at once
and report as soon as possible any sug-
gestion II may have for tho common use
of terminals. particularly at New York
and Chicago. and also for the common
Use Of tracks and cars.
The War Board. at Mr. McAdoo's $
invitation. is to he continued for the
present at least as an operating body.
1t consists OF the following five railroad d
executives. each a ieader in the busincs.
Of transportation:
Fairfax Harrison, president OF the
Southern hallway. chairman.
julius Kruttsrhntt, chairman of the
board OF the Southern Pacific.
Samuel Rea. president of the PennsyI-
vania.
Hale Holden, president OF the Burl,ng-
ton.
Howard Elliott OF the New Haven,