The sun., 1919-08-24
Only Eleven Acct
dents in 1913
When 900 Car
loads Of NJ uni-
tons Was the
Daily Average

this tine II does not seem
u possible that the principal
events of the year 1918 can
e;er be appropriated in our national
experience. For some time to come
the one event. the winning of the war.
viii crowd all other happenings into
the background of our mental vision.
When we are able to focus our minds
on other events the services rendered
by the railroads of the country will
stand out in bold relief and in the
foreground will appear the successful
transportation of enormous quantities
of such dangerous articles as eX-
plcsives. poisonous liquids and gases,
gasolene and acids.
Our military programme, adopted
early in 1918. called for the produc-
lion in one year of about two billion
pounds Of explosives for military use
and for the production of poisonous
liquids and gases at the maximum
rate OF about two hundred tons
day. The actual production attained
under this programme cannot be stated
at the present time, but it Is known
that for most of the'year preceding the
signing OF the armistice the monthly
production of military explosives ex-
cesded eighty million pounds. or more
than 1000 carloads of 10000 pounds
each per day. These explosives were
moved to the loading plants, where
each carload of explosives produced
not less than five carloads of ex-
posive projectiles.
$4,000 Cars n Day.
Allowing ten days for the average
movement to destination and consider
ing less than carload as we'll as car
LOAD shipments, conservative esti-
mate shows that the railroads of the
United States during the busy months
OF 1918 had at all times not less than
$4,000 cars in transit on Government
business and bearing the explosives
placard which is placed on every car
containing freight of this character.
This huge total was in addition to the
average of 5000 cars in transit to
meet the normal commercial demand.
1t should be remembered that this
movement took place at a time when
the general freight traffic of the rail-
roads OF the country had reached q
point not only beyond all precedent
but beyond what many experienced
railroad men had estimated that the
lines were physically capable of trans
porting and that 1t conceded also with
the mobilization of the nations man
power, in itself an achievement ex-
ceeding in magnitude anything In his
tory. Though an attempt was made
to reduce ordinary passenger travel
curing the war period by cutting off
trains and reducing sleeping car SER
vice to a certain extent, yet the. ext
Sencies of the Government, the neces-
gary transportation of labor to the
location of new manufacturing plants.
FIRST for construction and afterward
lof operating purposes, and the many
lengthy journeys required OF army and
navy Office :. inspectors and Govern
meht officials of all ranks, as well as
the thousands of conferences between
representatives. Of the Government
and business men which took place
"aily in every section of the country
resulted in a large increase in the
number of passengers carried, espe-
clally in the Eastern territory, where
ne traffic of troops. munitions and
supplies TO the Atlantic ports was az
rs heaviest. In view of these consid-
erations the results obtained in meet
ing this abnormal demand for the
Movement of dangerous commodities
mere little short OF marvellous
Only Eleven Accidents.
During the calendar year 1918 only
"eVen accidents OF all kinds occurred
IN the transportation of explosives
oh!y four persons We're injured and
the property damage was only $33.23S
me life was lost in the only one OF
toese accidents which resulted from
var material, and that occurred IN
'1nada in the explosion of box o.
rme fuse percussion caps.
Achievements of this character, re
curing the cooperation of hundreds O.
thousands OF men scattered over
continent, are not effected on the in.
spiration of the moment. Even tn,
patriotism OF railroad officials and EN-
boyees-and no class In the entir,
country exhibited a more steadfast anC
tnSelhsh devotion TO the nationa
needs than railroad men-wonld hav,
""1 helpless 10 accomplish such re
suits without instruction, organization
H4l lrnlnIng The railway engineer