The Washington herald., 1917-11-28
Three CITIES
DANCER ZONE
OF RAILROADS
Movement Of Munitions Has
Caused Freight Conges-
ton in Middle West.

The railroads danger zone" for
this winter includes these great
manufacturing and shipping centers:
Chicago, Detroit, indianapolis, Gin
rinnati, Toledo, Cleveland, Pitts
burgh, Buffalo, Syracuse, Philadel-
phia, New York and Boston.
The railroads are now carrying so
per cent more freight than, they
handled two years ago, and 100 per
sent more than ten years ago, with
nothing like a proportionate increase
in equipment.
would Move Munitions.
The railroads have named 800
freight commodities for the govern
ment, that can be. and may soon be,
embargoed to enable the roads to move
war munitions.
These were the salient points driven
home yesterday by Fairfax Harrison,
president of the Southern Railway,
and president Of the Railroads War
Board. He described the present con-
dition of the roads and outlined what
must be done IL they are to give the
country the service 1t needs to win
the war. The situation is good in the
South. Southwest and Northwest, he
declared.
THE real danger zone Is east of Chi
cago and north of the Potomac and
Ohio rivers" Mr.. Harrison declared.
This territory, even under normal
h. foh
traffic In the world; and It. contains
many Of the greatest and most efh-
GENTLY managed trunk line railroads.
These Eastern trunk lines are today
the key to the whole transportation
situation. The reason is obvious.
in II are most of the great man
ufacturing plants working on orders
for the government and its allies.
In it are most OF the coal mines.
Most Of the ore used in iron and
steel manufacture comes directly into
it from the Great Lakes. Most of
the grain and other supplies exported
to Europe move through it to Attain
tic ports. The situation Is aggra-
waited by the inadequacy Of ocean
shipping, which causes constant dam
ger Of blockades at ports"
And to these vital factors, Mr.
Harrison added:
over these same railways our
troops going to Europe are trans
ported.
Freight Not Important.
THE Railroads War Board has
furnished to Judge Robert s. Lovett,
priority director. and DR.. H. A. Gar
field. Fuel Administration. at their
request, a list of about 500 commodi-
ties, the makers and shippers of which
could, it is believed, without serious
harm to the public. be denied fuel
and transportation during the war"
Mr.. Harrison said. This list was
compiled because il railway traffic
continues to grow as it has been, the
time may come when it will be i'm
possible to move all Of it. The gov
eminent should have information
which would enable It to- decide what
commodities need not be moved.
The railways are hauling 50 per
cent more freight than a little over
two years ago. and 100 per cent more
than ten years ago Regulation has
rendered it impossible to increase
their facilities as much as they should
have been. Matters have been made
more acute by great increases in the
wages of labor. in prices of materials
and in the demands from European
allies for American railway materials
and equipment
Since five days after the United
States entered the war, when the
board was formed. there has been
a remarkable advance in the efficiency
of operation.
On May l. untitled acquisitions
for freight cars was almost $4,000.
The freight handled has largely in
creased since then, but up to Sep
tember the number of untitled
acquisitions for cars was steadily
reduced. There is normally a large
increase of freight traffic in the fall.
Ihls occurred as usual, and to No
Nember l the number of untitled
requisitions for cars has again in
creased to 100000.
Increased Efficiency.
The untitled orders of shippers
for freight cars never has exceeded
per cent of the total cars in sery-
ice. That the railways have been
able to furnish shippers SO per cent
of the cars ordered, in spite of the
big increase of traffic, has been
due to the increased efficiency in
the use of cars"
After showing that it is now i'm
possible to get steel. labor, etc, to
produce more railway equipment, Mr..
Harrison declared the only answer
TO railroad congestion is further in
creased efficiency.
Even without any further in
crease in the efficiency of opera-
tion." he declared. the RAILWAYS
probably could handle all the reaIlv
essential commodities.
With still further increases in
efficiency, they may be able to han
die most of the nonessentials, But
1t 10 best to recognize the fact that
II Is not only possible, but even prob
able, that the time will come when
the only remedy for the congestion
on the railways, especially in the
Eastern territory, will be to exclude
many commodities from TRANSPORTS
ton"
The committee Of railway execu-
tiVes which will operate the East
ern railroads as a unit thus en-
deaVoring to relieve freight conRes-
tion' went to Pittsburgh TODAY
where it will hold its first meeting
tomorrow