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9/18/1940 - Japanese Railroads by Thomas L. Blakemore

NOT FOR PUBLICATION TLB WSR Daimachi Akasaka Tokyo Japan September Dear Rogers The slight amount traveling Japan revived interest railroads slept since I building In sense involuntary congestion gasoline restrictions discouraging attitude toward foreign travel airlines rendered special attention necessary about I objective serious finding seats berths occur apanese railroading might field research young engineer Apparently there peculiarities organization operation gapanese lines marked those apanese society But project would await auspicious suspicious Railroads vital national defense foreigner investigation reading littl I railroads nation alized since exception lesser lines still privately owned Their representation Cabinet indicates relatively degree importance inherent ifficulties requiring special consideration Japan topography suited close network roads cases construction branches running inland maSor engineering The prevalence steep gradients ratio locomo tives track which largest country world Another misfortune narrow gauge which prevents optimum performance condition brought about through standard izing width first built An ultimate trans ition wider gauge seems track projected country heaviest Tokyo Shimonoseki It require secial rolling stock evpected hours The Lmique feature Japanese railroading exceedingly heavy passenger traffic compared freight Actually there passenger Japan freight greater share income comes fares This fundamentally competition coastal freighting although personally I stock theory Japanese world travelin people At present incentive places strong there increase relatively cheap fares despite general wages The packed nearly occasions whatever direction class sometimes standing aisles exhausted In seeking relieve congestion Railways inistry resorting tactics which world wring corporate souls bankrupt roads advertising travel appealing public avoid overstraining facilities And concrete steps deliberatedly laying obstacles pleasure travel Dining being pulled certain trunk lines station platforms being restricted baggage allowances complementary furnishing nightshirts sleepers ended travel services being closed Night travel especially trying wants sleepers The official travel agency foreigners tourists The Japan Tourist Bureau touch order placed advance record fulfillments The securing berth Tokyo station departure three before early enough afternoon place until _idnight tickets market public Despite extraordinary traffic other national needs which placements expansion somehow technical performance seems impaired slightest In punctuality efficiency Japanese trains hardly exaggerated nearly extremes South anChurian which according issionary Story schedules departures minute Any skeptics across water invited Tokyo Central See themselves precision which trains stations Nor overload noticeably frayed courtesy employees crowds maintain contradictory attitude actually wanting business I venture normal times travel Japan pleasant proposition Sincerely