Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 148, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1917 — PLEA TO EMPLOYEES [ARTICLE]

PLEA TO EMPLOYEES

Necessity of Every Railroad Man Doing His Bit. CHAIRMAN FAIRFAX ASKS AID Co-Operation of Each Person Is Urged in Appeal Issued by Special Committee on National Defense— Details Outlined. In an appeal issued to the railroads of the country by Fairfax Harrison, chairman of the'special committee on national defense of the American Railway association, the co-operation of each employee is urged. This includes every person in the railway service, from the presidents of roads to track and construction laborers. The necessity of every man doing his bit in order to help bring the great war to a speedy termination was pointed out by Mr. Harrison. He said that unless all who are engaged in the great transportation systems co-operate loyally and completely the railroads are foredoomed to failure. Details of How to Help. He said that every time a freight handler puts extra effort in 'trucking 1,000 pounds more a day in loading a car, he will have aided Just that much In bringing the war to a close, as will be' the case every time a locomotive crew adds 15 miles a day to the running power of their engine. He told the crews of the engines that it is, more so now than ever before, .heir duty to do all in their power to keep their locomotive out of the repair shop. According to the appeal, 15 per cent of ths locomotives of the country are in the repair shops or undergoing repairs at the present time. It is said this number could be reduced 50 per cent by closely carrying out the suggestion of the committee in that regard, putting back into service approximately 3,325 locomotives. Reduce Time of Loading. The average time consumed by shippers in loading and unloading freight cars is about four days, according to figures. By reducing this time a day, or even a half-day, each ear can go that much farther in doing its work toward carrying supplies to points where they may be needed by the armies of the United States and its allies.

According to statistics, there are about 2,575,000 freight cars in the United States, of which 167,000 are normally under repair. By proper co-op-eratlon and quick repair work 64,000 more of these cars could be put into active service. Shippers are urged to see that cars loaded by them are filled as far as possible to their capacity. If every car is filled there will be that many more cars in service. As on an average only 43 per cent of the total freight space is utilized, the remaining 57 per cent is- wasted. Jr-Co-operation between the railroads and the shipping and commercial organizations of the country was advised in the appeal.