The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-16
M'AD00 SEEKS TO
KEEP ACTIVE THE
MAIN HIGHWAYS
Battles Against the Worst Storm
Conditions Known for More
Than Generation
COAL AND FOOD ARE MOVED
Personnel of Board to Investigate
rail Labor Conditions An
nounced Today.
COAL AND FOOD ARE MOVED

Washington, Jan. 1G.-Against the
worst general snow and ice storm Of
a generation, the government railroad
administration Tuesday struggled tc
open main travelled routes and keep
coal and food shipments moving.
The situation tonight was regard
ed as worse than at any time within
the last week Of traffic paralyzing
weather. On top Of an accumulation Of
snow in the middle west from bliz-
yards of several days ago came fresh
snowfall today. Snow plows went to
work on the new drifts, while gangs Of
labOrers. drawn from every Occupa-
ton from which they could be spared.
tackled yards and terminals already
cleared once of snow within the week.
Temperature up in Spots
Temperatures were rising in most
sections tonight. but it was not warm
enough to release cars frozen to sid
ings or to thaw thousands Of cars of
coal caked in their carriers. Tele-
graph and telephone wires went down
under weight Of snow and ice and
many passenger trains whose sched-
ules had been re-established yesterday
were withdrawn once again lest they
meet the fate OF scores OF others STALL
ed behind drifts
Only coal and food kept moving
and these went slowly. Two, three or
four engines tugged at train of coal
in many instances
Forced to Close Down
Officials believed it would be only
a matter of days before some indus
tries would be forced to close down
by inability to get fuel The snow
cannot melt and the weather moder-
ate fast enough, it was said, to re-
store normal movement of coal to
meet the extraordinary war demand
Officials acknowledged they could
do little against the weather except
to distribute cars, locomotives and
snow fighting apparatus to the dis
tricts where the need is greatest Ac-
cordingly the American Railway as
sociatiOns. car service commission.
now moved to Offices beside those of
Director General McAdoo, issued many
lines
Coal on Sidinas
Investigations by the Interstate
Commerce Commissions inspectors
working under direction of Commits
sioner McHord, disclosed hundreds of
coal cars on sidings in the east. block
ed behind lines of almost immovable
freight cars destined for points al
ready suffering from fuel shortage
Freight moving week. although rec
ognized in kilograms from a number
of commercial organizations today.
seemed almost showed under
Director General McAdoo spent
nearly two hours discussing the mid
western storm conditions with r H
Ashton, president of the Chicago and
Northwestern railroad, who had been
summoned here for conference. and
there were reports that Mr. Ashton
would be named formally as Mr. Nc
Adoo's representative about Chicago |
to supervise transportation as A. H. |
Smith is doing In the east
The Labor Difficulty.
Tomorrow Mr. McAdoo will confer |
with number of state railroad COM
1nissioners who wish to give assur-
ances of their cooperation under gov
eminent ownership and inquire about |
the railroad administrations intention
toward state rate regulations and
OF state commissioners
authority.
Mr.. McAdoo expects to announce
tomorrow or Thursday the personnel
of the board of four to investigate the
brotherhood's wage demands and as
soon as possible wants to take up
other pending labor questions.
Interstate Roads
While the railroad administration
was at work on transportation prob
lens today, the house Interstate Com
nerce committee, at aehearing on the
railroad bill, drew from John Barton
Payne, counsel for Director General
that it appears doubtful
whether scores Of short roads oper-
lting within states are soon TO go Z
lnder government control. These have
'een notified that they are to be TAX
n over, it was said but the fact that
many are not parts of the CONT
rental system arouses a question as
o their status under President Will :
on's railroad proclamation.
nj T., .