Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-15
URGE ARMY SUPPLY
PLANONRA|LROADS
System Adopted by Americans
in France Recommended
by officers
WAR EXPERIENCES CITE D

Atlantic City, June 10. - Estab-
lishment Of thoroughly organized serv-
ice Of supply divisions. similar to
the S. q. s., which the United states
Jset up in France to rush ammunition,
food and other fighting materials from
seaboard to the Hindenburg line, was
recommended to the railway systems
Of America in the first annual conven-
tion here yesterday of the purchases and
stores section of the American Railway
Association.
supply department officers Of all
grades have great responsibility con
fronting them" said II. G. Pearce.
SeabOard Air Line, chairman, in his ad-
dress. "They have been given the
plan. the purpose and the machinery.
1t is for them as individuals to show
they are worthy. If we are not big
enough and broad enough to not only
know our own business better than any
one else, and strong and willing
enough to defend it against attacks,
and wise enough to recognize and
correct its faults, we will fail and
deserve to. ! have confidence enough
! in our strength of character. training
to the occasion and show owners and
executives what men with proper train
ing and duplication can accomplish
when organized and properly supported
| and directed
War Experience an Aid
Chairman Pcarcc declared experience
gained in conservation and co-opera :
tiOn under the stress of war and fed
| prn n1 i,,i,. nf
brought about the evolution Of the
Railway Storekeepers' Association into
the purchases and stores section and
led to the adoption of revolutionary
methods for meeting their requirements
economically and efficiently.
He voiced for the s. o. s. executives
their appreciation of the strong and
practical support given the supply de &,
partmcnt of the lines under federal
control. by reason in part Of the initia e
tive of the supply experts in organizing
committee for joint action in pro
curing and conserving materials re-
quircd for the maintenance and opera ,
tion of the lines even before the United
States entered the war.
\ plan of organization submitted hi
the general committee recommends the
inclusion of the purchasing and store
departments of each system under one
purchasing agent. with authority tC
buy all material and supplies of every
description required by his line, in
cluding new equipment, fuel. rail
bridges. ties and timber and dining cal
and restaurant supplies, and to sell al
scrap or obsolete material, including
equipment. Tho stores department. tht
convention held. should be- in charge o
n general storckccpcr. The report rec
| ,1,I nj In ,,In Of
form method of accounting for mate.
rials and supplies.
No Federal Control Reference
The convention eliminated all refer
enco to federal rontr"! from it's rules o
order and provided that the future con
troll Of the section shall be vested ir
general committee of sixteen. to b.
| divided between the purchasing unt
stores departments. Proposals TO max,
Chicago the permanent meeting plaC,
of the new section were rejected after
| G. u. Young. of the Pennsylvania. hat
pointed ont that such a rule might dc
privc the purchasing men of the privi
lege of meeting with the mechanica
chiefs and brnotiting through their con
ventiOn exhibit.
A committee. of which 4. S. Ne.
! KelligOn. of the Southern Pacific. wa,
chairman. recommended the operation
Iof supply trains by the. big systems for
the distributions of supplies as means
to tho lessening of congestion aud dc.
lays in the delivery of needed mate
rialS. Another committee submitted
tentative specifications for buildings
including re enforced concrete vault,
with steel doors for the storage of cX
ploSivcs.
ne hA, Iln,. Il,
specifications for the handling and dis
tribution Of rails. purchase of humber
| handling and sales of scrap. matcria
accounting, reclamation of materials
purchasing. storing and distribution 81
lee and uniform forms for record.
Experts Make Reports
+. NJ. Wnring. of the PENNSYLVANIA
submitted specifications for tests of ma
tcrials to the locomotive constructors
session OF the mechanical executives
convention. These ran the gamut from
D,StcCl tires to tender tank hose. ]. r.
Wallis. chief of motive power for the
| Pennsylvania. gave the report upol
autOgruouS and electric welding. An.
other committee pointing out that up tr
this time steel car repair work has beer
largely carried on with machine tool,
primarily designed for locomotive work
reported great economies can be per,
fcrted by the designing of machine tools
for car repair work specifically. This
committee submitted plans for model re-
pair shops.
&. B. Young. former chief Of the in
Spcction and test section of the railroad
dministration. reported yesterday tha
plans are we'll under way for the cstab
liShmrut of II Bureau of Research. This
institution, with engineering talent ol
all railroads and kindred organization,
at its command, is bound to be of great
service. the committee said. in perfect
ing American transportation methods
The committee recommended that tn,
cost of the service be assessed on thf
mgmbcr railroads through regular an
preparations.
Mechanical chiefs applaudcG the dec
laration in discussion that Improvement
Of working conditions will solve more
shop troubles than any other rcmcd,
thus far discovered.