The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-05
Look For Best
Christmas For
The Southeast


the busiest Christmas season, trans
portation lines in the Southeast have
ever faced, w. J. Harrahan, president
of the Seaboard Air Line Railway and
chairman of the Southeastern depart
ment of the Railway War Board offic-
ials in his department circular let
ter urging them to make all prepara-
tions to handle the traffic. In the
rine States of the Southeastern de-
partment are located more troop
camps than in any other department
, of the war board service, and the
movement of an enormous tonnage of
Christmas shipments to and from
them is expected.
To render efficient service, Mr.. Har-
ahan declares every available baggage
express and mail car must be pressed
into service and suggests that all
equipment of the class required be put
in condition and released from repair
shops by December 1 or eorlier If
practicable,
!, In order that delivery of Christmas
packages may be made before Decem-
ber 25 Mr.. Harrahan urges that rail-
road officials appeal to the public to
make shipments earlier than is Gus
tomary during the Christmas season.
This not only will be appreciated by
the government and the public. he de-
clares, but will prevent disappoint-
ment to the senders and recipient be-
cause of delay in delivery.
The southeastern department, COM
prising the States of North and South
Carolina, Georgia. Florida. Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisian, Tennessee, Ar
kansas and the coast defenses Of New
Orleans and Galveston. contains nine
: national guard camps, there national
army cantonments, three reserve off,
} GERS training camps. one quartermast-
ers' and one increment camp.
Mr.. Harahan's letter follows:
IT beg to call your attention to
prospective increase in number,
, amount and weight of Christmas
} packages to be transported by the
railroads this season by reason of the
very large number of troops in the
: various camps and the large number
( of people in the southeastern depart
> ment as result thereof.
"As you are away, there are more
. men away from home and family in
( the military and naval service of the
Q United States than ever before In ouI
t history, all of whom will probably
t receive Christmas parcels Of various
l. weights This enormous amount o.
). mail, express matter, etc, will. o.
j. course, be in addition to the large val
{ ume Of business ordinarily handled
during this period, and Of greater
G consequences than ever before on &C
@ count of conditions prevailing due t.
Q the war.
b ITO take care of this traffic will re
i quire every available baggage. ex
lpress and mail car. and It is suggest
J. ed, in fact urged, that everything pos
|. sible be done to render suitable To-
y service every piece Of equipment o
the class required to handle this bus
,. mess. That same may be gotten OF
>. repair tracks by the first Of December
or earlier II practicable.
e1 ITO further help the situation 1t Il
ia suggested that every means Of public
/. ity be used to induce the, public u
n ship their Christmas packages a weel
q. or ten days earlier than usual, to il
sure same reaching their destinatio
: before the holiday, thus avoiding dis
ID appointment, both on the part OF tn
giver as well as the recipient.
N Every step taken along the line
X indicated will result in appreciate
ia on the part of the government and tn
to public as efficient service of the raj
IS roads during this period, with tn
ie already heavy burdens confrontin
them, must add to the growing g
ne TEEN in which the transportatio
or lines are held by the public and ma
.r- be of advantage to US in many ways