The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-12
War Board Reports
 Excellent Results

had a practical demonstration of the old lesson that necessity is the best ! teacher.
 Until war conditions brought new and perplexing problems to be solved ] the railroads seemed satisfied with what had been regarded as reasonably fair freight service. But the handling of traffic is now done on an intensive plan that must seem nothing short of revelation to those operating of ficials who had been disposed to let well enough alone.
 Not only is the government greatly aided by the present day transporta- tion efficiency, but the railroads them selves will profit in a large degree, in the first place by direct economy and in the next place by the experi- ence that will be applied constructive 1y after the war is over.
 Fairfax Harrison, chairman of the war board, states that on seventy lseven of the principal roads of the United States a saving of IA, ,100 cars was reflected in one month this year solely by increasing the average loading of less than carload freights." In addition to increasing efficiency through intensive loading the rail- roads are driving campaign to re- duce the number of cars and locomo- tives under repair. The July reports show that the average number of freight locomotives awaiting repairs was 4122 against 4460 in July, 1916.
 Freight cars undergoing repairs in July numbered 135,s31, which was a decrease of 6 per cent as compared with the same month last year. And it is a noteworthy fact that all this efficiency has been brought about with comparatively little new equip ment.
 The strain on rolling stock and mo- tive power is, as matter of course, far greater than ever before, and cor respondingly great will be the prob lems of financing the roads when war conditions are behind. But way will be found that will make for far reaching benefits to the public and the raidroads.
 The scant attire of Gertrude Hoffman exponent of the cuticle school Of danc- ing, caused protest to be made by a delegation of Chicago women But the resultant publicity probably soothed Gertrudes lacerated feelings
 With bands playing and soldiers marching through the streets nearly every day, life is brimful of excitement for the average small boy.
 <
 Hardly anybody can fill more space in hotel lobby than a gubernatoriaI candidate in the full flower of his can didacy.
 It's rather dull day for Billy Sunday when he doesn't fill up two or three pages in each of the Atlanta newspa- pers.
 The tired business man will hardly object to paying a war tax to see new crop of broilers in pulchritudinous girl show.
 The notorious Lenine should strut while the strutting Is good, for the chances are his power won't last long.
 *
 One things settled. Uncle Sam Is not going to furnish supplies to a lot of wild-eyed anarchists In Russia. * * The President Is a wise man and when he receives delegation of suffragists he does most of the listening. * * *
 given a promotion" that amounts to something quite different The cry of the Thanksgiving gour- mand is. Give me turkey and cranberry sauce, or give me death" * t * i The salvation of Russia demands that the firm of Kerensky, Korniloff & Co., 1 be speedily reorgnaized. |; * * 1 Douglas Fairbanks is writing another book. Once acquired. the habit of au- thorship is incurable. H Judge Eylan wishes 1t distinctly un- derstood that Mayor Mitchell has TO mo- nopoly on patriotism.
 1 Bombing hospitals continues to be a