River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-01-03
FIRST RAIL ORDER
POOLS ALL TRAFFIC
HcADOO TELLS ROADS TO MOVE
FREIGHT BY MOST DIRECT
ROUTES.
WAR BOARD TO CONTINUE NOW
Is Delegated Task of Operating For
Present-Body Composed of Five
Foremost Executives-Quick
Relief Expected.

Washington, Dec. 29.-The railroads
of the United States passed into gov
eminent control as Secretary McAdoo
designated by President Wilson as di-
rector general of railroads, was dele
eating to the Railways War board the
tasks of operating them for the pres
ent
The war board, comprising five Of
the country's foremost railroad execu-
tives, who have been in supreme
| charge of the railroads for the last
nine months, were called into confer
ence, to discuss plans for welding all
transportation lines into single gov
ernment-operated system. They left
the Treasury department two hours
later under instructions to continue
their functions and to submit imme-
diately a plan of operation to the di-
rectOr-general
First Formal Order Issued.
Mr.. McAdoo has issued his first
formal order, designed to speed up
freight movement, telegraphing all
presidents and directors instructions
to move traffic by the most convenient
and direct routes At the same time
he ordered them to continue operat-
ing of their lines in conformity with
the Presidents proclamation, putting
them under government control.
The text of the order follows:
Having assumed the duties imposed
upon me and in pursuance Of the
proclamation of the President, dated
December 26, 1917, you will until
otherwise ordered continue the opera
ton of your road in conformity with
the said proclamation.
''You are required to make every
possible effort to increase efficiency
and to move traffic by the most con-
venient and expeditions routes. l con-
fidently count on your hearty coop
Grafton. 1t is only through efforts,
unselfish service and effective work
that this war can be won and Ameri-
cas- future secured.
"W. G. McAdoo,
"Director-General of Railroads.
Opens Way For Pooling.
There was no indication whether
Mr.. McAdoo intended to displace the
Railways War board with an organiza-
ton of his own, or continue the organ
ization for the continuance of the war.
1t is clear it will continue to function
until the director-general decides that
a better system can be devised.
The order that freight move by the
most expo ditious routes opens the way
for a pooling of traffic impossible
heretofore by reason of statutes de-
signed to prevent the practice of car
riers operated under private direction.
1t takes from the shipper his right to
route his freight as he wishes and
leaves to the railroad traffic manager
the task of sending it most directly
and where there is least congestion.
Removes Obstacles.
Although Mr.. McAdoo does not be-
lieve a complete unifcation of all rail
systems can be brought about over
night, even with the legal restrictions
lifted, he expects that steps taken UNI
der government control will remove
some of the obstacles that now pre-
vent the rapid movement of freight.
Members of the war board were re-
quested to study the situation and re-
port on any measure to relieve con-
gestion they think might wisely be
put into force.