The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-09-20

900 loaded cars on eastern lines was
the first work of the United States
railroad administration, says Direc-
tor General of Railroads McAdoo in
report to the President on things
accomplished in seven months of
vernment-controlled railroads. The
report indicates that the director
general believes he and his asso-
ciates have brought order out of
chaos at most critical period of the
nations life and he rightfully pro-
claims this fact.
Other features of the report in
clude surprising economies affected
while efficiency has been developed
to a high degree. This efficiency is
indicated by the statement that the
northerly trunk lines are used for
through trains between the Chicago
district and the east, thereby releas-
ing the more southerly trunk lines
to handle the traffic that originates
in the Pittsburg district, where econ
gestion of local and through freight
in the past has created some of the
most costly and exasperating block
ades that have been known in the
history of American railroads"
The Director General says that as
''no man can serve two masters" the
presidents and other officers of the
railroad companies were released and
their places filled by officials direct
ly responsible to the Director Cen
eral. This leaves the presidents
free to protect the interests of stock
holders and owners.
Under private control of the rail-
roads 1926 officers, drawing salaries
of 5000 a year or over, were en-
ployed, with aggregate salaries OF
$21 1,32O,187. Under government con-
troll 1925 officials Ia reduction of
4OO) are doing the same work, and
the aggregate of their salaries is
$16,7O5, ,298-an annual saving OF
$4,614,8S9. This includes the Off
GERS of the regional districts as well
as the central administration in
Washington, except the Director Cen
eral himself, who receives no salary.
Under private control salaries as
high as 100000 year were paid.
Now the highest salaries are paid
to the regional directors (of whom
there are but seven), and these range
from $4,000 to $4,000 year.
The expenses of law departments
have been reduced about $1,5OO,OO0
annually without impairing the eff
cheney.
Competition has been abandoned
and the consolidation of ticket and
freight offices has saved over $16,-
900 coo. Discontinuance of adver-
tising has effected another saving OF
$7,OOO,OOO.
Many unnecessary passenger trains
have been eliminated. In the ter
ritory west of Chicago and the
Mississippi River passenger trains
traversing an aggregate OF 2l,OOo,-
900 miles a year have been done
away with, and in the eastern dis
trict the saving approximates 26,-
100000 miles annually. Other un-
necessary trains are being annulled'
the hauling of special trains and
needless private cars has been DIS
continued and through travel is be-
ing directed to the natural routes
Now tickets are good on any route
that directly reaches the point de-
sired.
The same policy is being applied
as rapidly as possible in the con-
solidation of freight terminals, with
saving of switching costs that
will permit of the more rapid load
ing and unloading of freight cars
The Director General shows that
freight traffic from Los Angeles to
Dallas and Fort Worth has beer
shortened over 500 miles because
routing via the Southern Pacific
railroad has been abandoned. Oh
shipped from the Casper, Wyo', field'
to Montana and Washington points
is routed $50 miles shorter, and
new route between Kansas City ant
Galveston has been developed which
is 2e9 miles shorter than the liz
miles previously traversed, These
instances indicate what is being done
to shorten hauls and make possible
the more intensive employment O.
both rolling stock and equipment.
To further illustrate the terrific
waste under private control, the Di
rector General says that during
period of about so days some $685.
cars were re-routed in a certain west
ern territory so as to effect a sav
i