THE B&O RAILROAD GOES TO WAR

PART IV: DECEMBER 1917 - FEBRUARY 1918

By the end of 1917 the railroad system in the United States had experienced massive change. On December 28, the government took full control over the railroads, forming the United States Railroad Administration (USRA). President Daniel Willard of the B&O Railroad, an obvious choice of many to be the Director-General of this new organization, was not considered by President Woodrow Wilson. It was no secret that Willard was in opposition to federal control of the railroads. He made great strides with his fellow railroad presidents, organizing the Railroad War Board, in an effort to avoid federal takeover. The two men also shared differing political ideologies, which was likely a factor in Willard's non consideration. Instead, this position went to Secretary of the Treasury William G. McAdoo.

Here is a USRA - B&O Telegram, ca. October 1918 - January 1919. While the B&O still operated their railroad, they were under the complete control of the USRA. [B&O Railroad Museum Collection]

Within days of the USRA formation, William G. McAdoo went to work, establishing a Railway Wage Commission. By February, the group of six began hearing the petitions of railroad workers. Despite the successes of the Adamson Act in 1916, employees were still seeking wage increases, specifically time-and-a-half pay. The lowest paid workers ultimately received a $20 monthly wage increase, while middle to higher level employees received respective increases of 30-40%. These would not go in effect until May 25, but were retroactive to January 1, 1918. Railroad workers won massive victories through pre-war legislation and the USRA.

Railway Wage Commission, created January 18, 1918 by Director-General of Railroads. Seated: J.H. Covington, Franklin K. Lane, Charles C. McChord, and William R. Wilcox. Standing: W.A. Ryan, F.W. Lehman [Harry & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress]

Despite being passed up for the top executive position in the new USRA, along with his dislike of a federalized railroad system, Willard was nothing but supportive of the effort for the rest of the war. [B&O Railroad Museum Collection]

 

It was not until January 1918 that word got back to the B&O of their first employee loss of the war. In 1910, John E. White worked as a car cleaner and fireman for the Staten Island Rapid Transit Company (SIRT), a major partner that was also leased by the B&O. White left the company to serve in the Army's Coast Artillery Corps, taking part in the Mexico Expedition of 1916. Upon his return, he was rehired as a freight trainman. When WWI broke out he left the company once again. On December 23, 1917, White died of a gunshot wound "somewhere in France". He was fondly remembered by his B&O family and was the first of many employees lost during the war.

[B&O Railroad Museum Collection]

Additional news from former B&O employee Charles A. Trageser reached the B&O in February 1918. Trageser first began working for the company as a messenger boy out of Camden Station. Up until December 1917, Trageser was working for the Bureau of Rates of Pay. He enlisted in Company D, 6th Battalion, 20th Engineers, and worked as a stenographer. On February 5, 1918, Trageser was aboard the SS Tuscania off of the Irish coast, when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by the German Submarine UB-77. Around 210 people died during the sinking, but Trageser survived, going on to serve in France.

[ B&O Railroad Museum Collection ]

 

Late 1917 - early 1918 was the beginning of a massive transition for the B&O. The company handed over control to the USRA, saw additional men leave by the dozens each month for the military, only to be replaced by an increasing number of women in the workplace. The year 1918 would test the company more than at any time since the American Civil War.

By Harrison Van Waes

Curator, B&O Railroad Museum

The B&O Railroad Goes to War is a multi-part blog series commemorating the centennial of American involvement in World War I. Follow along with this series through November 2018.

Sources:

B&O Railroad Museum Archives.

Baltimore & Ohio Employee Magazine [ December 1917 - February 1918 ]

"History." The National Tuscania Memorial. Accessed: January 30, 2018.

Stover, John F. History of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Indiana: Purdue University Press, 1987.