The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-09-09
U. s. GENIUS TO END
CHAOS OF EUROPEs
RAIL TRANSPORTATION

the possibilities of plan to bring or
der out Of the chaos of the transporta-
ton in Europe.
Ravages of war left the railroad
situation in Europe perilous, costly
and, in some sections, an almost i'm
possible undertaking.
1t is commonly admitted that no one
factor tends so much to prevent the
re-establishment of something like a
normal and economic condition in Eu-
rope as the lack of transportation
and hobbling by political consideration
of what facilities that do exist.
Various Conferences Held
Problems as such have long been
recognized by European governments.
There have been various conferences
on the subject, notably that at San
Sebastian last spring, under the au-
spices of the League of Nations. But
at these conferences statesmen and
not business and railroad men dealt
with the situation, with the result that
resolutions of constructive criticism
were passed, but transportation re-
NAMED about as bad as ever.
At the present time the shipment
of American goods from French
ports, for instance, is subject to in
Vulnerable customs examinations and
often to loading and reloading, be-
cause one country is afraid to let its
freight. cars roll into another country,
for fear that they will never come
back.
Before the war shipment of Ameri-
can goods could be routed by way of
Trieste for Vienna, and thence by rail
over Austrian and Hungarian roads,
and would arrive with some degree of
promptness. Now Trieste is Vienna's
port, but Trieste is in Italy. Ship
ment for Vienna is subject to Italian
jurisdiction and then must travel
through Jugo-Slavia and its jurisdic-
ton in order to get onto Austrian ter
ritory.
Delay to Foreign Shippers
Each country acts absolutely indie
pendently in it's custom administra-
ton and delays and inconvenience to
foreign shippers and foreign con-
signees seem about the last thing in
the world to be worried about.
Almost deplorable physical facts
concerning the railroads in Central
Europe do not need to be dwelt upon.
Since 1914 there has been very little
replacement of track or rolling stock,
except for temporary military pur-
poses, and with money of Central Eu-
ropean nations deprecated, they can
not buy American, English or French
equipment.
1t has been for some time reported
that business men of the Central Eu-
ropean nations have been endeavor-
ing to interest American railroad gen.
JUS and American railroad capital in
the situation. Several governments
have shown keen interest. Because Of
the manifold difficulties, practical and
political, which cucumber the prob
lem, naturally any preliminary steps
should be rather discreet and practi-
cally nothing has been published
about the undertaking.
But there are excellent reasons tc
believe that conversations are going
on with view of important action
1t was reported last week thai Il. L.
Winchell, former president of the
Frisco and Rock Island and director
of Union Pacific, was in Europe with
rather comprehensive negotiations
When seen, Winchell neither denied
nor confirmed the report, but pre-
ferred to talk about battlehe.ds.
| Through System for Freight
In the opinion of some practical
railroad men there exists in Europe Q
shining example of what may be done
La Compagnie Generate des Wagon
Its operates its sleepers all over Eu.
rope. 1t is able, by system of ar.
rangements, to disregard boundaries
and you may take compartments al
Paris and stay in them until you gel
20 CohctGn:inople or Smyrna. Somt
such system as that for freight trans
portation, with controI Of freight cars
for through freight, is probably what
will be aimed at. Whether centra
company would have to own its carl
or an international arrangement
could be effected under guarantees
acceptable to railroad systems of diff
! ferent companies, is a detail to b.
worked out.
4 In its ultimate application, the idea
European system would enable good
to be shipped across any border to an!
destination under seal and subject t,
customs of only the country receiyin,