Railroads' War Board

Last updated November 08, 2025

The Railroads' War Board was a committee of U.S. railroad executives that operated voluntarily during 1917 to coordinate rail service as the United States entered World War I.^[1]

Following the declaration of war by the United States on April 6, 1917,^[2] a large meeting of railroad executives was convened in Washington, D.C. to discuss supporting the war effort. The American Railway Association authorized creation of the war board.^[3]^: 109 The board comprised five members, chaired by Fairfax Harrison, president of the Southern Railway. The additional members were:

Howard Elliott, chairman, Northern Pacific Railway
Hale Holden, president, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Julius Kruttschnitt, chairman, Southern Pacific Railroad
Samuel Rea, president, Pennsylvania Railroad.

There were also two ex officio members who participated in board discussions and policies: Daniel Willard, President, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (liaison with the recently formed Council of National Defense); and Edgar E. Clark, Commissioner, Interstate Commerce Commission (which was itself closely studying the national railroad problems).^[1]

The board had limited success and, in late 1917, supported President Wilson’s decision to nationalize the railroads to support the war effort.^[3]^: 117 On December 26, 1917, Wilson created the United States Railroad Administration to carry out that nationalization, after which the board dissolved.^[1]

References

1 2 3 Cunningham, William J. (1922). American Railroads: Government Control and Reconstruction Policies (PDF). Chicago: A.W. Shaw Co. pp. 23–34.
↑ United States Congress (April 6, 1917). "A Joint Resolution of April 6, 1917, Public Resolution 65-1, 40 Stat. 1, Declaring that a State of War Exists Between the Imperial German Government and the Government and the People of the United States and Making Provision to Prosecute the Same". Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives.
1 2 Dixon, Frank H. (1922). Railroads and Government: Their Relations in the United States, 1910-1921 (PDF). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.

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[Cunningham-1] 1 2 3 Cunningham, William J. (1922). American Railroads: Government Control and Reconstruction Policies (PDF). Chicago: A.W. Shaw Co. pp. 23–34.

[2] United States Congress (April 6, 1917). "A Joint Resolution of April 6, 1917, Public Resolution 65-1, 40 Stat. 1, Declaring that a State of War Exists Between the Imperial German Government and the Government and the People of the United States and Making Provision to Prosecute the Same". Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives.

[Dixon-3] 1 2 Dixon, Frank H. (1922). Railroads and Government: Their Relations in the United States, 1910-1921 (PDF). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.

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