The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1918-08-17

to refresh our minds with the things
which we thought and spoke years
ago, let comparison be made be-
tween what it was believed could not
be done, and what has been done with
in few months.
The railroad administration has
done much to put better and more
facilities at the disposal of the rail-
roads with which to carry on the mo-
bilization of industry. The railroad
administration, with the backing Of
the government, has provided the
funds and the authority to place con-
tracts in the better development of
transportation. Just recently the
governments manager Of the eastern
district gave a description of what
has been done to date with the prob
lem of transportation under govern
ment operation. This might be sum-
married as follows:
Savings Accomplished
1. The elimination of approximate
ly 100000 miles per month Of unes-
sential passenger train mileage.
2. The assignment to the eastern
railroads of 122 locomotives con-
structed for the United States military
railways in France; also 1875 locomo-
tives constructed for the Russian
government, as we'll as 118 under or
der for the southern and western
roads.
3. The transfer of power from one
road to another to relieve congestion
or shortage of power. All roads are
required to report surplus equipment
and it is distributed wherever the need
for it appears. On May 81, 215 loco
motives belonging to eastern railroads
were rented on this basis to other
roads in the eastern territory.
4. Diversion of traffic to less con.
gested routes and the expedited move
ment of empty box refrigerator and
cars, westbound, and empty coal cars
to mines via most available routes,
regardless of loaded haul.
5. Handling company fuel and ma
terial by the most direct routes, saw
ing unnecessary haulage, which under
private control was sometimes done
to give the greatest proportion of a
through rate to the receiving line.
6. The common use of terminal
facilities at large commercial centers.
7. The interchange of labor to elm
mate accumulations of less-than-a-car-
load freight.
8. Restriction of available equip
ment for certain classes of loading,
which has been possible under unified
control, permitting the urgently re-
quired traffic to be loaded and moved
to the exclusion of less necessary
commodities.
Original ClassificatiOns
9. The classification of freight by
the originating railroads to permit
trains to be run through western ter
mini without reswitching.
10 The coordination of harbor facil-
tiles at New York, in order that the
greatest possible service could be OBJ
tanned from the floating equipment
and facilities; including the breaking
Of ice in the bays, rivers and slips
during the periods of low tempera-
ture, to permit the operation of ma
rine equipment.
II. Institution of Sailing days" in
the handling of less-than-c a r-load
freight. In very large number of
instances regular cars previously load
ed daily are now forwarded but three
times week, which is resulting in a
decrease of 50% in the number of
cars used and consequent increase of
1OO% in the tonnage per car handled.
IL. The routing of freight to tide
water via the delivering line at des-
tination has resulted in a very great
relief to the seaboard terminal facili-
ties. Arrangements were made for
the loading Of freight to steamers di-
rect from the piers, the freight being
routed via the line reaching the pier.
13. The saving in power on account
of diversion of traffic to roads with
most favorable grades, resulting in
saving of engine efficiency.
IA. The facilities of the eastern
railroads locomotives and car repair
shops are being constantly scrutinized
in an endeavor to find space for re-
pairing locomotives of other eastern
railroads not so well situated.
Is. The running of locomotives
through over more than one road in
connection with troop and freight
movement to save power and the de-
lay of traffic.