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Show iGinniG " RAILROAD PROBLEM i Radical Restrictions Are Being Be-ing Planned to Avoid the Coming Congestion. GASOLINE IS SCARCE Many Street Car Lines May Be Moved From Cities to Country. I.ONOOX, Vb. 9. As the war poos on, the difficulties In connection wilh railroads, rail-roads, automobiles unci street railways are increasing; rapidly ami with growing effect ef-fect on every -day' life. Congestion on the railways and in the malls will soon necessitate radical reJ strlctlons, it Is asserted. Travel permits may become necessary, while reorganisation reorganisa-tion of freight transport will aim at distribution dis-tribution everywhere from the nearest sources of supply in order to save transportation, trans-portation, labor and fuel. Kood traders are In-irii; iryed to combine for mutual help in dint ri but ion, and households are asked to purchase at the nearest stores. The sLreet railways are being" put on the same basis as the steam roa ls under a new order Kivinn the board of trade power to commandeer street railway rolling roll-ing stock and material. Moving Street Lines. Just as unnecessary railway lines were taken up and sent to France, so will dispensable dis-pensable street car lines be liable tn ie-moval ie-moval from one part of the country to another. This proposal has aroused some opposition, as London will benetil at the expense of the provincial cities, but tiie idea is that iines and rolling flock sUaII be used where thev are most useful. Saving of casoline is one of t he chief needs, for the shortage is acute- The government has found it necessary to convert con-vert thirty-five standard and other ships into oil-tank carriers. There will also be further reductions In both petrol and the use of horses for commercial ptirpos. and priority will be given to war work nnd food transport. Tho use of sas for transport, which has recently become very pooular, it is announced, an-nounced, will also be restricted to vehicles engaged in necessary business. Gas Control Necessary. Gas control throughout the country will be necessary unless the strictest econ-', omies are effected voluntarily in nonproductive non-productive consumption, such as for light- , Inp. There is an enormous demand for more pas for power. In the munition : factories many engines are gas-driven, and pas is also used to an increasing ex- ! tent for heatinp furnaces. The govern- j ment has already given the minister of munitions new powers to enforce restrictions. restric-tions. Transport used for nonessential distribution distri-bution is to be prevented as far as possible. possi-ble. Coal, food and raw materials for : munitions must all be obtained from the nearest source. Two thousand food com- mittees and S00 local transport committees ' will assist in the orpan'ation of local schemes of economizing t V nsport. Scores of towns alreadv have th own schemes In operation. Lancaster V d other cities are formrhp companies of iraders to pool their vehicles. New Delivery Planr k Street railways will be use 1 Urptdv for the transportation and delivery of food. Some towns will institute street -car de-liven" de-liven" of parcels. Milk will be delivered only once daily instead of twice, while bakers, butchers and other tradesmen will have only three deliveries a week Instead of six. Throuehout the past year there has been an accumulation of traffic difficulties in London. The gradual elimination of private motor cars, tax lea bs and UghL automobile delivery wagons has thrown a burden on othr means of transport which were already overtaxed, and some of the hardest problems of railway transport are involved in the economical solution of railway congestion around the London terminals. |