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Show I T, . DESERET EVENING NEWS SATURDAY DECEMBER r. ;ib' I ' 22 1917 National War Board Works With Strategy of Field Marshal to k v Meet the Transportation Demands of Country an avalanche of traffic has descended tBpon the lines of thafe the Battle of the Marne will be fought SUCH this winter hy the railroads of -- the United agai States. Despite the extraordinary achievements vof the railroad war board so far, the demands fat equipment and dded service gren, greater and greater week by week, for traffic is increasing at a ratio of approximately 15 per cent .each month. Crops throughout the country Jiave been unusually heayy as a result of the uniformly concerted national movement of production, factories are turning out unprecedented productions of all classes of needed supplies, and raw materials such as lumber, ores, wool, etc., require transportation to points of manufacture. As railroad equipment factories are putting forth supreme efforts to supply the imperative demands for equipment on the European battle fronts the American heeds of equipment have to take second place. Add to these conditions the fuel situation, troop movements, and normal shipping and traffic requirements and the magnitude of thfe American railroad problem may well be likened to the Battle of the Marne, but as that was won by the gallant allied defense, so will the railroads battle of America be won by the unstinted support of shippers and the public. of the country have gone through experience The railroad the past Har that no one could ever have dreamed of, which the experience of the lust could never have euegested, and which have taxed the Ingenuity and j lminlstratlve talent of American railway manager a they were never taxed . tetoie. That the railroads of th country have been able at all to stand up under Ure strain la a marvel, that they are able now to handle a efficiently a they to, not only the overwhelming rush of commercial traffic together with the inouaund of soldier to be carried from one part of the country to another ih few accident and lor of life. Is gull more astonishing It but of of oul Frundeis tne the feara allegation justice I a cupreine Court a few years ago in arguing a railroad ease, before his ynj'oimment to the bcmh, thnt the railroads of the nation could be eper-.itat a far greater percentage of efficiency and at lees comparative cost limn what obtained at the time' being. This is now being done. APPOINTMLNT OS' WAR J!OYRI. The present war has been the meant of appointment of a war board jf railway executives and operating heads by. the president through sanction which has taken over the operating management of ail he railways of the country. Bo that the 260,000 miles of road owned by earl 700 separate companies have been welded into one national svst--m coder tne absolute direction of live men with President Daniel S. Willard of chairman, and the following associates. ti rail! more &; Ohio, as ?T lairfax Harrison, of the Southern Rail way ...Oliva. Moan, a rw Mr. Howard '7 jTotl of tW N. V , , H. A ftlt. K : and Mr. Hale Holden of the C. B IQ It Mr" ft Rea, of the renfunlvania It. R, and Mr Juji03 Krutiscnnitt, ,f tne Southern Pacific R. ft. These men have pooled for govcrrmental use the needs ef general business, 73,636 locomotives. 43,323 passenger cars, and 2,535,311 freight cars regardless of individual ownership, to say nothing of directing 176, M0 railway officials and employees. Moreover, thca board reduced the greatest car shortage in history from 143,627 cars Mv 1 last, to 33.776 Aug 1. The business handled has been for the current year over 16 per cent Increase over that of 1316, and 24 per cent over that of all this with an Increase in equipment of only 3 per 1315, of tram cent. Then 20,600.066 . miles competitive passenger has been eliminated, this saving the or 'working In harness, equipment and motive power for wai purpoe, freight congestion has and if the full appreciation of this be-- n averted by promptly moving 11S.-4- principle on the part or every citizen whatever may be the empty freight care from roads of the lan-th3t could spare them to other roads nature of his endeavora, which will make for general success of our great where they were urgently needed, nation tn providing for our own perHasten All Coal Shipments. sonal needs, helping to provide for Th board has hastened the. coal the needs of our allies and eventually 5 movement so that In July alone to a successful conclusion the more cars of coal, or 10,316,530 bringing groat fight that waged against more tons were handled on the printhe role of "right by might" and mak1316. More lines in than July, cipal ing the, world eafe for democracy, over. 5.687,62 bushels of grain was which means, placing the rights of delivered at the Atlantic sea boatd every human and every nation on an 'May 1 to July 14. Fifty thousand cars however humble or exalted of freight were delivered to 1 army equality, h or it may be. cantonments. Including 450.000 feet of lumber, and arrangements have been a , yl -- 1 207.-42- diers. In fact, as the New York Tribune remarked. Oct. 15 last, "W have today, the spectacle of the railroads of the country operated with vastly efficiency, straining every herve to do the work of the nation, cheWully responding to all the. governments demands, expanding tbetr business beyond all ihs records of the v past." It Is also thown that although there has been only a 3 per cent Increase in freight aoutpvneat. the railways dered nearly 36 per cent more freight service In Jane last than In thVsdtbe month last year. Then. intensive oca. loading has been introduced, oonwrv Ing an enormous amount of space. Directs All Freight Movements, In sddltica to the war board'a sphere of operations Is the appointment of Judge R. 3. Lovett, chairman of the board of director of tho Union Pacific, tp be priority arbitrator, to dtreot freight movements over the country, so that government freights shall have precedence over others, and that certain lines of freights shall be specially expedited. , ' At the beginning of the fall harvesting th questioe of th movement of potatoes, fruits and other perish-shie- s from the Intermountain country gave the railroads grave concern, but through the concerted action of many railroad lines, thousand of refrigera- torwar were rushed into rhe srngest pd districts fromjeves troubled sections end the situation materially relieved. Box 'bars substantially lined to keep out. frost were also utilised to excellent advantage In many Instance. These crowding r.eccseitle, most effectively sv.akfn a general pubilo appreciation of th great virtu of Uniterm " In terurbanLin'es Solve Market Problems Bamberger Electric railroad, between Balt Lake and Ogden-- , traverses one of the most fruitful valleys in the Intenraountain region. Farming, stock raising and manufacturing are among the chief industries of this territory and the constantly Increasing facilities of the Bamberger Electric for hand ling the products is a strong factor toward the development of this fertile country. The road, erlglnalty a steam system, has mads rapid progress In every department and today stands among the finest tnterurban systems In the United States. Until recently tbs Bamberger Electric might have been termed a strictly passenger line, but due to the development of the adjacent territory, and the urgent need of better freight transportation, the tnterurban has, and is continuing to develop this traffic. Dally freight service is maintained to and from all stations, enabling producers to find a ready market for tbetr shluinents. , Te Serve City Market, nansarobeirg formulated towards establishing a city market and 'the "freight service maintained by the electric line i as argament being Urged In favor of the site being located n the tnterurban depot. The slogan of shippers is "thers today and there to morrow" for the transportation of ' farm products. During the recent "apple week" at Salt Lake City several car of the fruit THE t n Oregon Short Line Makes r Troop Movements to American Lake to Meet Handled Without Delay or Accident Many Improvements of NE of the achievement of the war transportation service was the record made by western railroads in handling 46,000 drafted men various from points In tbs west to Camp Lewis. AmeriThese can Lake, Washington. troope were segregated Into four units, 5 per cent of them moving during the early days of September, 40 per cent later in that month. 40 per cent early in October and th final 15 "per egnt In November. The Utah contingent was composed of 2370 men and was handled by the Oregon Short Line under the direction of D. S. Spencer, Utah representative ef the American Railroad Association for the movement of drafted troops By train schedule adjustments, all the troop specials arrived practically on time. Sleeping cars were provided for everyone for at least part of th trips so that there were no discomforts for lack of bertha. Th drafted men were uniformly well behaved and there were no damages to equipment reported for the whole movement. There were no triin accident and no Interruptions of regular freight or passenger service. Bv means of prearranged schedules and other arrangements, th wer con signed from Cache valley, "loaded today," and "at destination" the following morning before 3 m where the stock was purchased direst from the ear. This service te maintained for a If freight end enables tbs tnterurban- - to cany fruit and other perishable to and froqj the markets without the necessity of refrigeration It te will solve the market problem foe tho Salt Lake bouse wife. Also It Is predicted that this service will cause a great reduction in the market price of fruits and vegetables, enabling the more distant farmers to compete with th farmer In closet proximity te th market American Hallway Association representative at Camp Lewis was able to act as Intermediary between civilian organizations, attending to the drafting and movement of the "Liberty Boys" and the military authorities who reThe movements ceived them. strictly civilian, the only assuming control of the men upon their arrival at Camp Lewi The plans worked ont so wall that the men were checked In and registered as csrethlly as they would have been at any metropolitan hotel, and they were generally Msigned to quarters and detachments w'thin an hour of detraining The 44 000 men of th western department were- handled In the 5 per cent following units1,300 men on regular trains beginning September i: 40 per cent It 400 men on special trains beginning September li; 40 per cent 18 400 men In special trains beginning October 3; IS per cent 6,300 men in special trains be. ginning November 3. Th two 40 per cent movements 37 use ef sleepers required the and 106 trains, re presenting all extra traffic bat bandied 'without the curtailment or obstruction of any regular train service or freight shipping. In local Oregon Short Line Jer- - Electric railroads tn all parts ef th country hare joined the steam lines In the movement to assist the government as a SnR tn war transportation. The interorbans of Utah have been rendering valuable assistance to th steam linen In tho transportation ef coal. A ear of coal 1s consumed by a ataam locomotive handling a trafcs-loa- d of coal from Carbon eoonty to Wt Lake City. A targe amount of this fuel eonmmptkm is eliminated by rooting vie the electric tines. Again, oaring t rhe congested condition of the steam line terminate, tho electric reads aro able e mere rltory, which virtually Includes all the Intermountain states, thp proportions of the units handled were as follows. First movement 5 per cent, in five units, beptember 5, 6, 7, 8 and 3, average 23 men per day. Handled in tourist sleepers but In JTar trains. Second movement. 40 per cent, September 13. Epecial train, 431 men, equipment one baggage car, one diner, 1 1 too rtst sleeper Third movement. 40 per cent. October 3. 444 men. special train, one baggage car, two diners, 13 tourist sleepers. October 4, 544 men special train 1 baggage car, 2 diners 13 tourist sleepers Fourth movement. October 27 Negro quota, II men, extra tourist sleeper. Fifth movement, Novemiier 3, special train, 15 per cent plus additional number required to fill vacancies on earlier mo'ements of men rejected after final physical examinations, 561 nfen. Hqutp-nieone baggage rs- -, 2 diners and 13 tourist sleepers An interesting summary just 1. sued b the heeretary of War shows that since tie present mobilization txg'in the railroads of the United States had transported a total of 314 185 men up to November 13. 1317. nt th cos! to drstmatoRs with the least possible (if lay, thss relieving serious shortage m many localities. New Depots. Owing to th increase in traffic at North Salt Lake, the location of the Cudahy Packing plant, the company has found it necessary to construct a modern passenger station. At the Layton station an additional siding has been put In. the freight house enlarged and f number of other Improvements mads to accommodate the increasing business. Other changes and additions are contemplated, chief among them being the construction of an up to date passenger and freight lepot at Kaysv Demands Transportation ? HE more Important physical changes tn the property of th Oregon Short Line Railroad company daring 1317 were as follows: rail In tbs main Approximately 60 miles of 30 and track has been replaced with 30 pound rail, to meet the requirements of increasing weight of equipment. To facilitate operation and accom mod ate shippers, approximately . 3 ; mile of sddtttonaT elds tracks wer oo nstructsSL New line under construction are as follows: Baker spur extension estimated to cost TO. 060 Garland to Bear River City, estimated to cost 175,000 Lincoln to Firth, estimated to cost 378.000 Menan to Annta, estimated to cost Sf.000 Keever to Thomas, estimated to cost 33.000 Collins Northeasterly, estimated to cost 141,000 To meet the requirements of Increased, size and weight or equipment, several large bridges required replacing, th more important of these being n the wood and steel truss bridge across the Snake river on th Mackay branch near Bisckfoot. which was replaced with a stool bndgt. of heavier des.gn, at a cost of approximately 151,000, th two wooden truss bridges across the Wood river near Eetchum on the Ketchom branch being replaced, each by a 21 steel tru pn on concrete abvsu merits gt a cost of 155.000, the pile trestle, 40 feet high, across r Snake-rivethe on Jhe Twin Falls branch, being replaced with steel spans on concrete m.is nr substructure at a cost of about $250,000. the JO-foFerry was rearrange! and extended st a cost of approximately 85 viOO. The wooden truss bridge near Vale on th railroad company also donated i 1 1,000 Oregon Eastern branch replaced by toward the enlargement of the Y. M. Steel spans on majbnry pier and abutC. A. budding at Pocatello The ash p is at Montpelier and ment at a cost of 44 000, and the addition of a center truss span to each Glenns Ferry were .xended to accomof the three 16 deck steel truss modate fou- - engivrs each at one time, at a cow of apf rox.raately 14,000. Grain-vllt- e san over Conant creek, near on the Victor branch, at an apIncrease Freight Facilities. proximate com of 135,000 At Salt Lake Ctv the freight depet Depot Gonstrui ted. facilities were Increased by the erecFrame depots were constructed at tion of a 7bx!'3.foot and cor. each of tbs following places, at a PugateJ Iron sh. d at steel north end of cost of approximate! f 4,000 each. freight depot, ard a rtone block paveRail!, Ida. Grace Ida; heevef. Ida. ment was provided on the teanv elds Idahorae. Ida, and Gmnett. Ida The of thoi at a cost of approx-lmatedepots at Flier, Buhl and Kirie were 10.000. a wheel and axle reextended at a com of 3,000 each, and pair shep was provided in th the depots at Tremonton, Trenton an.J jard at a cos' of about 8.500,north sad Moor war extended at cost of 1. new buildings were provided for hous300 each. The Twin Falls freight de- ing track labor In tha gangs yard. pot was rebuilt and extended at a At Ogden, yard trackage is balmy cost of 3 500. extended at a cost of approximately New water station were provided 190 000 Two. story 'extension t a follows. Nyssa. at cow of $14,000; commissry bunding has been erected Murphy, $8 000, Bancroft, 310,004, and additional laundry machinery Pioneer, 85.000; Taber, It 500. at a cost of approximately A steel water tent 15.040. Paved team wav th and a 12 inch stand pip with neces- freight house have been around built at sary piping wsrg Installed at Farm- cost of about ill 000. ington, at cost of $6,500, and at GarAt Pocatello, approximately ttOO,-04- 0 ner, similar equipment was Installed, was expended for new 'Structure, at cost of 36 000. of which th more imports ot were a A new club house at Lima was reinforced concrete subway for shop completed at a total cost of 81( 000. employ eea at Bridger street, at cost of and furnished at an additional cos of 83.606. Th club house at Glenns (Continued on twenty.) -- .. .... ...... four-spa- 473-fo- ot 750-fo- ot lv 85,066-grallo- n -- ' "i Hit irrr e hi' |