Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1917 — GOOD WORK OF RAILROADS [ARTICLE]

GOOD WORK OF RAILROADS

Chicago, October 12.—The railroads are co-operating with the United States food administration, farmers and grain dealers’ associations to conserve and protect the food supply, particularly ' grain. Every railroad in the wheat belt has been notified by R. Tl. Aishton, chairman of the central department committee of the railroads’ war board, that every possible precaution should be, taken against fire at grain elevators and warehouses. Extra grain car doors and all other inflammable material are to be kept far enough away from grain repositories to avoid being a fire hazzard. A nation-wide movement has been started among the makers of and dealers in railway supplies, to provide SI,OOO worth of smoking tobacco weekly for the railroad officials and employes who enlisted to construct and operate military,, railroads in France and other allied

countries. Already nine railway regiments! have been raised. They have the distinction ■of being the first organized contingent from- the United States to get into active war service in France. While building and running the lines which carrymunitions and other supplies to the French front they have been the targets of Germany artillery and aviators, but 'so far no casualties are reported? ', • '< France has appealed for more American railway men and engineers and ‘several rcgirh“nts will be raised. E. .P. Ripley, president of the Santa Fe system, believes that the world war will end in complete victory for the United States and iis allies not later than next spring. “The Germans must fight to the end fts- now organized,’’ said Mr. Ripley. They have.no reserve force left and cannot possibly last till their children reach military age. In a little while the allied armies will be overwhelming, and the Germans will be crushed in the spring, at the latest.” Mr. Ripley said that on the whole our government has. done remarkably well in conducting .its part of the war, and praised the administration far having called to its aid in the great emergency the .best, nien available, regardless of their political affiliation. “In addition, to get more efficiency,” continued Mr. Ripley, “the administration threw into the wastebasket a lot of hampering laws, including ' most of the antitrust laws.” “Will the transportation needs of the country be met during the war?” “Yes,” answered Mr. Ripley. “The railroads, having merged their interests, will be able to handle both government and Commercial traffic with the minimum of delay. During rush , times the service may not be perfect, but it will be as nearly perfect as any other class of service -under human management.”