106 Miracles Ahead! 



The OWI compares the railroads' performance in the first 

 World War and in World War II: 



"During the last war, freight congestion on the railroads, 

 particularly at and behind ports, became so great that war 

 plants closed for lack of coal, fuel riots took place, goods 

 spoiled on piers, and freight cars containing cargo needed for 

 ships had to be lifted out of clogged yards by crane. This was 

 due in large part to the facts that the railroad lacked any cen- 

 tral agency among themselves (such as is now provided by 

 the Car Service Division of the Association of American Rail- 

 roads, which arranges for pooling of freight cars and other 

 equipment), and that there was little cooperation between 

 carrier and shipper, goods being routed to ports without any 

 assurance that ship space would be ready. After the govern- 

 ment took the railroads over in December, 1917, conditions 

 improved. But at no time were there so few prolonged con- 

 gestions as at present. And at no time during the last war did 

 such an immense volume of freight move westward as well as 

 eastward across the country as today. 



"There is no talk, at the present time," the OWI adds, "of 

 the government assuming ownership and operation of the 

 railroads. . . . The Army and Lend-Lease and other agen- 

 cies agree that the control system is working 'reasonably well' 

 and it is generally agreed that desire to avoid government con- 

 trols has acted as a stimulus to the railroads to maintain a 

 high degree of cooperation." 



In its report on postwar transportation problems the 

 National Resources Planning Board stated that "the future 

 of the railroad lies in its continuance as the principal agency 

 for heavy freight movement. The railways are capable, under 

 a system of trainload operation and rates, of meeting much 

 inland waterway competition, other than on the Great Lakes. 

 Except for the waterways no agency of transport can seri- 

 ously challenge them save on the shortest hauls." 



