East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-03-04
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
RAIL COSTS HIGHER THAN UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL

~ URING the days when William G. McAdoo as director o
the railroads in time successfully carrying
the herculean task of rushing troops and supplies to
east coast he subjected to much petty larceny criticism
by parties who had of their to grind One pet cr
csm that the railroads lost money under federal control
It is now possible to get comparative estimate of the cost
and the efficiency of railroad service under federal control and
since that time The facts forth in the following story
constitute real tribute to the genius of Bl McAdoo.
BY RICHARD IINTHcuM,
Especial Coespondence.)
WASHINGTON March rhe "story the aiOads' told
William
Committee the
his
he
demonstrated efficient control and
operation of the the that
decisive victory by promptly supplying the needs of the allies the
crisis Of the whole conflict
slase ava November 1921 they have cost the public at the OF $751;
divided peodhe
vital essentials facts and figures McAdoos
Is 4 pRE-rrDr1,Ah CONTROL PERIOD
@ ns s q n % ss @ @ Of ' SsF s S ] war
% the front % an m @ O. app y hs ais country The weakness Of the
The railroads were operating II 1917 with the had
fall Of 1915 1917
condition Of traffic particularly the Hst had point
board appointed Immediately after our entrance
into re ws ne conditions q the railroads grew steadily worse despite the
only did the lack equipment order effectively but
they the credit to get IT The traffic
s yer night Mr. resulted
e the roads period years and from long deferred main
deoraBe on January l. 1918
wen William & AeAdoo took over their direction under federal control
nY The Interstate conperee Commission records and testimony he
The railroad board composed q Fairfax Harrison Julius Kuchnl
1917 railroads locomotives
Srs SAT- ~ ads @ 70 no linen on % @ @ cost o. winch was placed placed at sso
individual credits The railroads had on order then o2 locomotives
well equipped mache they claim they 1902 locomotives and
a their equipment in repair account Of the shortage Of skilled
Mr. Rea in letter Director January 1915
The generalization Of @ traffic shown by check on the arrival
sr 5 when there e. a,e arrivals u.s. and depart
The Interstate Commerce Commission on December sl7 submitted
country OF this Commissioner Aitcheson said:
tolerabe and constituted menace to public safety
sas Commerce Ss com%a S Ss @ s before the inter-
condition the railroads
Z, the country not alone the owners Of the property but as affecting direct
January
seeO cars Of freight excess Of the territory east Of Chi
extraordinary congestion territory.
on sm @ s n n' IF "Ii s committee
shu II s filed minority the bin known the Federal
that no objection made @ to men and opsaon
esar withdrawn from private control and assumed public function
Il only said opinion have gahered from
with railroad executives
situation as be controD"
McAdoo hearings far back the
n functionng effectively
federal
rous question.
T
Mr
expenditures
chargeabe
these
stations and office buildings
n houses, electric plants etc
locomotives having
equipment ana
pairs, he following deductions:
beginning wasbo
Of the end
the railroads
nands in their history.
summarized
h
railroad service
operation
100000 freight
obtaned
other improvements of
raroad
United States and full credit given them