Part X

Railroads and Foreign Policy

Record Group 59 General Records of the Department of State

X.1 Created by an act of September 15, 1789, the Department of State advises the President in the formulation and execution of foreign policy and conducts the foreign relations of the United States. For some time after its establishment, the Department administered practically all the domestic affairs of the United States except those concerning war and finance. Among these functions were the administration of territorial affairs. These domestic activities of the Department were later terminated or transferred to other agencies. Department of State documentation relating to the railroads of the United States, Mexico, and Canada are found in the Department central files and other series. These records document the activities and operations of the railroads themselves, as well as their involvement in diplomatic relations between the countries. The records are described in the Inventory of the General Records of the Department of State, 1789-1949, I 15, except as noted. There are also numerous unpublished finding aids for this record group.

Central Files of the Department of State, 1789-1973

X.2 Diplomatic Correspondence dating up to 1906 includes instructions, 1785-1906 (45 ft.)(MLR Entry 5A, A1) to diplomatic officers; dispatches, 1789-1906 (610 ft.)(MLR Entry 13, A1) from diplomatic officers which are arranged alphabetically by country and thereunder chronologically; notes to foreign missions, 1793-1906 (27 ft.)(MLR Entry 23, A1); and notes from foreign missions, 1789-1906 (82 ft.)(MLR Entry 28, A1). These series of diplomatic correspondence have been published as National Archives microfilm publications An example of these records are the Dispatches From U.S. Ministers to Mexico, 1823-1906 (M97, 197 rolls) which include correspondence relating to railroad construction and the linking of railroads in Mexico with those of the United States.

X.3 Consular correspondence dating up to 1906 includes instructions to consular officers, 1800-1906 (44 ft.)(MLR Entry 59, A1) and consular dispatches, 1789-1906 (507 ft.)(MLR Entry 85, A1) to the Department. These series are also been published in various National Archives microfilm publications.

X.4 The numerical file, 1906-10 (372 ft.)(MLR Entry 192, A1), arranged sequentially by case number, includes general correspondence of the Department of State. The documents relate to virtually all aspects of American diplomacy and departmental business for the years 1906 to 1910. It has been filmed as National Archives Microfilm Publication M862. Several case files relate to railroads in North America. Some examples of files relating to North American railroads are correspondence relating to the construction of the railway to Fort Churchill, near Hudson Bay, Canada, dating April 10, 1908 (Case #12, 991); and labor conditions on the transcontinental railroad in Canada, dating June 11, 1908 (Case #14,124). This series is indexed by the card index to the numerical and minor files, 1906-10 (200 ft.)(MLR Entry 188, A1), which is arranged alphabetically by subject, individual names, foreign service post or country, and by government department, thereunder as "to" and "from," and thereunder chronologically. Each card gives the name of the sender or addressee, the date, a brief summary of the message, and a numerical file case file designation. There are several references to records relating to railroads in North America under the designation "Railroads."

X.5 Decimal file, 1910-63 (13,620 ft. for period 1910-49)(MLR Entry 205, A1) is arranged by subject according to a predetermined file classification scheme, divided into seven file segments. This series consists of the 1910-63 portion of the State central files. The decimal filing scheme is composed of nine major classes, including Political and Treaty Relations of States and Internal Affairs of States. The subjects were defined within each class and identified by a decimal classification. Each country was assigned a two-digit number, e.g. Canada (42), Mexico (12), and the United States 11). As papers accumulated under a specific subject heading, they were assigned document numbers (enclosure numbers), which were subordinate to the decimal classification. The decimal filing scheme was changed in 1950. One file manual is for file segments 1910-29, 1930-39, 1940-44, and 1945-49. A revised filing manual is for file segments 1950-54, 1955-59, and 1960-63. The records include correspondence between the Department of State and its diplomatic and consular officers, other Government agencies, foreign governments, the Congress, the President, and the public dealing with most of the activities of the Department.

X.6 The Central Decimal File is indexed by the name index, 1910-59 (3,157 ft for the period 1910-49)(MLR Entry 199), which is arranged alphabetically by name and thereunder chronologically in the same seven files segments as the Decimal File. This index to the Decimal File refers to private persons, organizations, and companies. Each card gives the subject and date of the document, the names of sender and addressee, the decimal file classification, and a summary of the message. References exist under "Railroads," "Railways," and related subjects such as railroad company names. The major decimals for North American railways in the Central Decimal File for the period 1910 to 1949 are decimals 811.77 (United States), 812.77 (Mexico), and 842.77 (Canada); and for 1950 to 1963, decimals 911.712 (United States), 912.712 (Mexico), and 942.712 (Canada). More specifically, for the 1910-49 period, decimal 811.77 (Railways in the U.S.) is subdivided into decimal 811.771 (Railway Laws and Regulations in the U.S.), 811.772 (U.S. Railways between U.S. and Mexico), 811.773 (Railway Rates), 811.774 (Railroads: U.S.-Canada), 811.775 (Railway Accidents), and 811.779 (Embargo). Some of this material is on microfilm, depending on the country.

X.7 Some examples of documents in decimal 811.77 for the period 1910 ro 1929 include a dispatch from the German Embassy, dating May 19, 1910, regarding locomotives fitted with appliances to warn engineers of approach to a signal (811.77/1) and a telegram dating February 10, 1915, to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad expressing desire for information concerning purpose, scope, and probable duration of embargo (of the Santa Fe) upon Constitutionalists Railroad, Mexico (811.77/4a). Examples of documents for the period 1940 to 1944 include a letter from the War Department (Lee), dated April 3, 1941 (811.77/257), regarding information concerning the railroad block signal systems used on American railroads. The letter advises that the espionage forces of the Axis powers have been instructed to obtain information concerning these systems. Another example is a letter from the Association of American Railroads, dated August 18, 1943 (811.77/279), concerning design for railway stations in important cities in the United States. The letter lists several journal articles concerning stations, which were accompanied by architectural drawings. One significant document from the 1950-54 period is a lengthy report entitled "Trans Canadian Railroad to Alaska," dated October 31, 1950 (911.71242/10-3150), containing information relating to the proposed location for the railroad.

X.8 The "Subject-Numeric" file, 1963-73, is arranged chronologically by date span (1963, 1964-67, 1970-73) and thereunder according to an alphanumeric filing scheme devised by the Department of State. This series comprises the 1963-73 portion of the State central files. Beginning in February 1963, the Department of State implemented a new filing scheme whereby correspondence was filed according to a subject-numeric system. Within each time period, the records are arranged into several major categories: Administration, Economic, Political and Defense, Science, and Social. Each of these categories is subdivided into secondary classifications and are usually arranged thereunder with general information first, followed alphabetically by countries and geographic areas. Within each country or geographic area the records are arranged according to a numerical classification scheme. Records relating to railroads are in the Economic category under Inland Transport (IT 8 Rail). A detailed subdivision of IT 8 Rail is listed in the Records Classification Handbook (File Manual) for this series. There are records for each time period relating to U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads in file designations IT 8 US, Canada, or Mexico. For the 1964-66 period, IT 8 Canada includes documents relating to Canadian railways such as annual reports, legislation, planning, and government subsidies. A sample document is Airgram A-114, dated June 19, 1964 (IT 8-6 Canada), from American Consul, Toronto, to the Department, regarding the official opening of the Toronto freight yard of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Documentation in the 1970-73 period includes information concerning railroad passenger service between the United States and Mexico and the return of U.S. rail cars from Mexico due to the rail car shortage in the United States (IT 8 US).

X.9 There are also lists of documents (purport books), 1910-44 (488 ft.), arranged according to the decimal file classification. Each entry gives the name of the sender or receiver, the date and number of the despatch or telegram, and a purport or summary of the subject matter. Entries under the appropriate decimals for North American railroads, such as 711.77, give a synopsis of every document in the file.

Other Records

X.10 Records of the Division of Commercial Affairs include the consular trade reports, 1925-50 (691 ft.)(MLR Entry 326, A1), arranged chronologically by year, thereunder alphabetically by name of consular post, and thereunder chronologically by date received. The series include reports of U.S. consular officers covering many phases of economic and commercial activity, including information on railways for the Mexican and Canadian consulates as well as those in the Bahamas and the Caribbean region.

X.11 Newspaper clippings on foreign and domestic affairs, May 1849-Nov 1963 (7 in.)(MLR Entry 637, A1), arranged chronologically, are among the "Records of the Bureau of Rolls and Library, Printed Collections." The series includes mounted newspaper clippings on the U.S. transcontinental railroads and the San Francisco Railway.

X.12 The territorial papers, 1764-1873 (14 ft.)(MLR Entry 912, A1), are arranged alphabetically by name of territory and thereunder chronologically. The records consist of correspondence, reports, proclamations, and messages issued by the territorial governors, copies of journals of proceedings of legislative assemblies, newspaper clippings, census data, and other records. All of this material is published in National Archives microfilm. Included are records relating to the desire of the territorial government to have the transcontinental railroad routed through Dakota Territory, 1861-73 (M309, 1 roll); railroads in the Montana Territory, 1864-72 (M356, 2 rolls); the construction of railroads in the Nebraska Territory, 1854-67 (M228, 1 roll); and records relating to the Pacific Railroad in the Wyoming Territory, 1868-73 (M85, 1 roll).

X.13 Ordinances granting franchises in Puerto Rico, 1901-06 (4 in.)(MLR Entry 920, A1), arranged chronologically, include copies of ordinances of the Puerto Rican executive council granting franchises for railways. These ordinances were transmitted to the President of the United States for his approval.

X.14 Still pictures among the Department of State records include a photographic print of the interior of the Palace Car of the Ohio Railroad, dating 1870 to 1880, in the "Historic Buildings in the U.S. and Canada, 1870-1880" (59-HB). There are also some photographs of the construction of the Chiriqui Railroad in Panama, dating 1915, in the photographs of "Foreign Buildings and Industries, 1915-48" (59-BF).

Record Group 76 Records of Boundary and Claims Commissions and Arbitrations

X.15 This record group includes the records of multinational boundary and claims commissions and arbitrations concerning the interests of the United States and the resolution of property disputes and claims of U.S. citizens. Records pertaining to railroads include the "sabotage claims" in the records of the Mixed Claims Commission, United States and Germany, 1922-41. The Mixed Claims Commission, United States and Germany, was created during 1922 for the purpose of determining the exact amount to be paid for satisfaction of claims of the United States and its citizens that had arisen against Germany since July 31, 1914. By 1933, all but a few of the claims had been decided. These records are described in the Preliminary Inventory of Records Relating to United States Claims Against the Central Powers, PI 143.

X.16 The largest group of undecided claims of the Mixed Claims Commission was designated as the sabotage claims. These comprised 153 claims of U.S. citizens who suffered losses estimated at about $23 million in the fires and explosions at the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company Terminal at Black Tom, New Jersey, on the night of July 29-30, 1916, and later at the Assembling Plant of the Agency of the Canadian Car and Foundry Company, Ltd. at Kingsland, New Jersey. At Black Tom, at least two people died. These disasters were allegedly caused by the activities of German saboteurs in 1916 and 1917 before the United States entered World War I. The sabotage claims were before the Mixed Claims Commission for

more than 12 years, and it was not until 1939 that a decision was rendered in favor of the 153 American claimants. There are 13 series of records relating to the sabotage claims (MLR Entries 24-36, PI 143). These records are fully described in PI 143. Some of the more important series include:

1. copies of memorials, 1927 (2 in.)(MLR Entry 25, PI 143). These are copies of memorials filed by the United States in behalf of the claims of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Canadian Car and Foundry Company.

2. briefs relating to fraud by the German government, 1935 (6 in.)(MLR Entry 27, PI 143), unarranged. Included are briefs of the sabotage claimants relating to the responsibility of Germany for the destruction at Black Tom.

3. opinions and decisions in the sabotage claims, 1932, 1939 (3 in.)(MLR Entry 36). These are copies of the opinions and decisions regarding the settlement of the sabotage claims, dated 1932 and 1939.

4. records relating to German saboteurs and their activities. These are records compiled by the Agency of the United States, U.S. claimants, and counsel concerning German saboteurs and sabotage activities that were used as exhibits and evidence to support U.S. claims against Germany.

X.17 There are 16 series of records concerning German saboteurs and their activities (MLR Entries 73-88, PI 143). These records are fully described in PI 143. Those relating specifically to the Black Tom disaster:

1. records relating to German saboteurs, 1928-39 (10 ft.)(MLR Entry 76, PI 143), arranged by subject in rough alphabetical order. They consist of letters, memoranda, reports, newspaper clippings, statements, and notes regarding German agents, most of who were connected with sabotage activities. Several files concerning the Black Tom saboteurs are included.

2. reports regarding Michael Kristoff, 1917-21 (2 in.)(MLR Entry 78, PI 143), arranged chronologically. These are copies of reports prepared by secret agents who investigated the activities and personal connections of Michael Kristoff, alleged to have been one of the perpetrators of the Black Tom disaster. Includes a table of contents.

3. transcript of coroner's inquest, July 15, 1929 (1 in.)(MLR Entry 81, PI 143). The coroner's report concerns the death of James Doherty, who died as a result of injuries received in the Black Tom explosions on July 30, 1916.

4. special reports relating to the Black Tom explosion, July-September 1916 (2 in.)(MLR Entry 85, PI 143), arranged numerically. The reports were prepared by the detectives who apparently were employed by the Congressional Special Committee on the Black Tom Island disaster to investigate and to determine the cause of the explosion.

5. statement of damages submitted by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, August 24, 1939 (2 in.)(MLR Entry 86, PI 143). The series consists of an affidavit, dated August 24, 1939, regarding losses suffered by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company as a result of the destruction of the Black Tom Terminal on July 30, 1916.

X.18 Still pictures in this record group include four photographs of the Boundary Marker on the Brownsville, Texas-Matamoros (Mexico) Railroad Bridge, dating 1910 (76-TX).

Record Group 84 Records of the Foreign Service Posts of the Department of State

X.19 The "Records of Foreign Service Posts, 1788-1964," are maintained in two groups-- records of the diplomatic posts (embassies, legations, and missions) and records from consular posts (consulates general, consulates, and commercial and consular agencies). The records maintained by diplomatic and consular posts include instructions from the Department of State and dispatches to the Department; notes to and from host governments; instructions, dispatches, and reports to subordinate consulates; miscellaneous letters sent and received; visa and passport records; records of births, marriages, and deaths of American citizens; and records concerning the disposal of property, settlement of estates, and the protection of American citizens. These records were maintained by the diplomatic and consular posts in the countries indicated, as distinguished from those records maintained by the Department of State (Record Group 59). In general, the records at the Department level are more usable than the records maintained by the Foreign Service posts, particularly before 1912. The post records, however, are very useful, as they may contain the enclosures that accompanied instructions received from the Department and copies of dispatches that are missing from the Department's files. The post files may also include internal or local correspondence that was not forwarded to the Department. The Foreign Service post records are organized into two time periods: records dated before 1936 and records dated after 1935. Records dated before 1912 are arranged alphabetically by country (diplomatic posts) and by Foreign Service post (consular posts), thereunder by type of correspondence, and thereunder chronologically. Records dated from 1912 to 1935 are arranged alphabetically by country (diplomatic posts) and by foreign service post (consular posts), thereunder by year, and thereunder by subject in a central file according to a decimal filing scheme. Records dated after 1935 are arranged by country, thereunder by diplomatic post and alphabetically by consular post, and thereunder by subject in a central file according to a decimal filing scheme. Some record series were filed separately. There are two filing schemes: one dating from 1912 to 1948 and the other dating from 1949 to 1963. Records relating to railroads are located in decimal 877 (Railways) for the period up to 1949 and decimals 541.1 (Railroad) and 553.3 (Transportation Equipment: Railroads) for the 1949-63 period.

X.20 There are records relating to railroads scattered among the Foreign Service post files of Canada and Mexico, mainly reporting on railway conditions. One of the most significant collections of records is in the Records of the Foreign Service Posts dating after 1935, for the U.S. Embassy, Mexico City. It is the series general records, 1937-52 (379 ft.)(MLR Entry 2894, UD), arranged by year and thereunder by subject in a central file according to a decimal filing scheme. The series has voluminous records (approximately 15 boxes) concerning railroads in Mexico for the period 1942-46 (decimal 877). They include correspondence relating to the U.S. Railway Mission to Mexico, which provided technical and economic assistance to Mexico during World War II. Other records include reports on the condition of Mexican railroads and correspondence with or concerning the National Railways of Mexico, and the Southern Pacific Railroad of Mexico, and other railroads.

Record Group 229 Records of the Office of Inter-American Affairs

X.21 Established by Executive Order 9532, March 23, 1945, the Office of Inter-American Affairs performed the same functions as its predecessor, the Office of the Coordinator for Inter-American Affairs. The Office of the Coordinator was created by Executive Order 8840, July 30, 1941, under the auspices of the Office for Emergency Management. The purpose of the Office was to promote increased hemispheric solidarity and inter-American cooperation, especially in commercial and economic areas. The functions of the Office were to coordinate activities of Government and private agencies in Latin America, recommend programs to other Government agencies to supplement existing programs, and direct operations in programs in the event no other agency was in a position to do so. Most of the records relating to railroads in this record group pertain to the U.S. Railway Mission to Mexico during World War II. This mission provided technical and financial assistance to Mexico for the purpose of upgrading the Mexican railroad system. There are records relating to the mission in the records of the Department of Transportation, Railway Transportation Division, and the records of the U.S. Railway Mission to Mexico. In addition, there are other records relating to railroads in Latin America in the Railway Transportation Division material. The records of this Office are described completely in the Inventory of the Records of the Office of Inter-American Affairs, I 7 (1973).

X.22 Among the General Records of the Office of Inter-American Affairs are the central files, 1940-45 (212 ft.)(MLR Entry 1, I 7). The series is arranged according to an agency filing scheme which divides the records by subject, function, or correspondent into six major categories with a number assigned to each: (0) Inter-American Activities in the United States, (1) Basic Economy, (2) Commercial and Financial, (3) Information, (4) Administration, and (5) Alphabetical. Within each major topic, the files are arranged by subjects and thereunder chronologically, except for category 5, which is arranged alphabetically by Government agency. This series consists of correspondence, memorandums, reports, surveys, studies, minutes of meetings, and related records concerning most activities of the Office of Inter-American Affairs. Several folders of records relating to railroads are located in (2) Commercial and Financial, Transportation, Land ways, Railroads (box 162). In addition, there are three boxes (boxes 197-199) of documentation concerning a study of the National Railways of Mexico and related topics in the (2) Commercial and Financial, Mexico, County Files.

X.23 The Railway Transportation Division of the Office of Inter-American Affairs administered several programs to aid in improvement of rail service in Latin America during the period 1942-46. The projects were limited to sending individual technical advisers to individual countries to conduct surveys and to recommend railroad improvement methods and training programs. Several series are of interest:

1. general correspondence, 1942-46 (3 ft.)(MLR Entry 49, I 7), arranged alphabetically by subject or correspondent and thereunder chronologically. The correspondence relates mostly to railroad education, training, and general transportation programs and to motion pictures on railroad education topics. Also included is material on Mexican railroad workers.

2. records relating to railway missions and technicians, 1942-47 (9 ft.)(MLR Entry 50, I 7), arranged alphabetically by country, thereunder by subject or type of record, and thereunder chronologically. Included are correspondence, memorandums, reports, surveys, studies, maps, charts, photographs, blueprints of plans, and related records pertaining to studies of railroads and proposals and programs for improvements in Mexico and other Latin American countries.

3. communications sent relating to railway missions ("Day-By-Day Correspondence"), 1942-46 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 51, I 7), arranged chronologically. The series contains letters, memorandums, and telegrams sent, mainly to chiefs of missions, other Government agencies, private firms, and individuals concerning railway missions in Mexico and other Latin American countries.

4. correspondence regarding orders for railway equipment, 1942-46 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 52, I 7), arranged alphabetically by type of equipment or other subject and thereunder chronologically. Most of the correspondence relates to the Mexican railway project. Included are photographs, blueprints of plans, specifications, and other materials.

5. records relating to the U.S. Railway Mission in Mexico, 1942-43 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 53, I 7), arranged by subject or type of record and thereunder chronologically. The records consist of correspondence, memorandums, reports, agreements, and other records relating to general administrative, financial, and policy matters of the Mission; surveys and studies; conditions of Mexican railroads; requirements and plans for rehabilitation; traffic; routes; labor-management relations; and related subjects.

6. correspondence with the Chief of the U.S. Railway Mission in Mexico, 1942-45 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 54, I 7), arranged chronologically. Included are letters, memorandums, and telegrams sent and received relating to general administrative, legal, financial, and personal matters and subjects concerning the condition and rehabilitation of Mexican railroads. The records include statistical data and information about the condition and procurement of tools, equipment, track, replacement parts, and rolling stock; health and sanitation problems with rail workers; labor affairs; and the provision of technical assistance.

7. correspondence and other records concerning materials for Mexican railroads, 1942-45 (3 ft.)(MLR Entry 55, I 7), arranged by subject, correspondent, or railway and thereunder chronologically. This series consists of letters, memorandums, and telegrams sent and received; lists; schedules; blueprints; abstracts of inventories of equipment; and related records. The correspondence is mostly with manufacturing, export, and railway firms, and U.S. and Mexican Government agencies. The records relate to procurement of materials in the United States for the rehabilitation of Mexican railroads and to problems with the requirements and orders for these materials.

8. records relating to exportation of materials for Mexican railroads, 1943-46 (3 ft.)(MLR Entry 56, I 7), arranged by type of record and thereunder by job number assigned chronologically. These records are certificates of assignments to commodity suppliers, notification of preference ratings for shipping priority, and customs clearance certifications.

9. monthly reports of the U.S. Railway Mission in Mexico, November 1942-June 1946 (5 ft.)(MLR Entry 57, I 7), arranged chronologically. These are originals and copies of reports to the Coordinator and exhibit material, such as photographs and maps, concerning financial and personal data and information on Mission organization, condition of railroads, progress on individual projects, and related matters.

10. digests of progress reports of the U.S. Railway Mission in Mexico, November 1942-July 1943 (0.1 ft.)(MLR Entry 58, I 7), arranged chronologically. These copies of digests were prepared by the Rail Transportation Division and sent to the Coordinator and other Government agencies.

11. reports of the departments of the U.S. Railway Mission in Mexico to the Mission Chief, 1943-46 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 59, I 7), arranged alphabetically by name of department head and thereunder chronologically. The series contains copies of reports received from the Mission Chief, with transmittal correspondence, on activities of Mission departments relating to repair and construction of freight and passenger equipment; traffic; maintenance of roadway, ties, track, ballast, and bridges; motive power, shops, water supply and treatment; scrap; and related subjects.

12. monthly progress graphs, 1943-45 (2 ft.)(MLR Entry 60, I 7), arranged chronologically. Included are graphic reports, written in Spanish by the National Railways of Mexico, indicating the progress of work on the Mexican railroad rehabilitation project.

13. miscellaneous records relating to the U.S. Railway Mission in Mexico, 1942-44 (0.3 ft.)(MLR Entry 61, I 7), arranged by subject. The series consists of six binders and an album containing photographs, instructions, questionnaires, and reports relating to straightening of rails; aligning curves; stores, scrap, and reclamation; trip of Mexican railroad workers to the United States; general railroad and transportation facilities in Mexico (including the Aguacalientes railroad yards); and opinions of Mexican railroad officials concerning the Mission.

X.24 The U.S. Railway Mission in Mexico was established in 1942 because of the perceived inadequacy of the Mexican railroad system. The United States depended heavily on the Mexican railroads to transport critical war materials from Central America and Mexico because of the danger from German submarines during the period. The U.S. and Mexican Governments agreed in November 1942 to a joint program for the rehabilitation and modernization of the Mexican railroads. The Mission undertook an extensive program of rehabilitation while simultaneously maintaining vital rail service. The mission completed its work and was terminated on June 30, 1946. The following series are of interest:

1. general records, 1943-46 (14 ft.)(MLR Entry 63, I 7), arranged by subject according to the "index filing system" and thereunder chronologically. The records consist of correspondence, memorandums, reports, minutes of meetings, news clippings, and translations of news articles with the Rail Transportation Division of the Office of Inter-American Affairs, Mission personnel, and Mexican Government and railroad officials. The records concern virtually all activities of the Mission, including rehabilitation and procurement of railroad cars, engines and other equipment, and recommendations and reports of Mission departments. The index to general records, n.d. (0.3 ft.)(MLR Entry 62, I 7), is arranged mostly alphabetically by subject according to an "index filing system," in which numbers were assigned to each subject. As new subjects were added, higher numbers were assigned, and the new subjects were thus filed by number, not alphabetically. The index is to subjects treated in the general records of the Mission (Entry 63) and give subject, date, and numerical file designation.

2. general correspondence, 1942-44 (10 ft.)(MLR Entry 64, I 7), arranged alphabetically by subject or correspondence and thereunder chronologically. Included are letters, memorandums, and telegrams sent and received relating to general organization, administration, and operations of the Mission. The series

also contains documentation on such subjects as office rules, regulations, space, and personnel; materials and equipment; procurement; traffic and shipment of commodities; border interchanges; health and sanitation; labor relations; accidents; and accounting.

3. records of the chief, 1942-46 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 65, I 7), arranged alphabetically by subject, name of correspondent, or type of record and thereunder chronologically. The series includes correspondence, memorandums, telegrams, reports, minutes of meetings, transcripts of proceedings, inventories, railroad yard reorganization plans, and other records relating to administrative and substantive matters of concern to the Mission Chief.

4. correspondence of the chief, 1944-46 (0.5 ft.)(MLR Entry 66, I 7), arranged alphabetically by first letter of surname of correspondent, and thereunder chronologically. The series contains letters and telegrams sent and received concerning general personnel and administrative matters, procurement of equipment and materials, visit of Government and industrial officials, publications, and publicity.

5. miscellaneous reports and publications, 1943-47 (0.3 ft.)(MLR Entry 67, I 7), arranged by type of record. The records were accumulated by the Chief and include bound annual reports of the National Railways of Mexico (in Spanish) and copies of two U.S. railroad journals containing articles about the Mission and railroads in Latin America.

6. records relating to the activities of the Mission Department, 1943-46 (19 ft.)(MLR Entry 68, I 7), arranged in two subseries, each arranged alphabetically by name of department head. Included are correspondence, memorandums, and reports, largely of the department heads and the Mission Chief, relating to virtually all activities of the Mission.

7. records relating to surveys and rehabilitation projects, 1943-45 (3 ft.)(MLR Entry 69, I 7), arranged by subject or type of record. The series contains reports, recommendations, questionnaires, photographs, related correspondence, and other records concerning fiscal, car, and labor force accounting; administrative procedures; administrative reorganization of the National Railways of Mexico; water treatment; opinions of Mexican railroad officials concerning the Mission; and salvage and reclamation projects.

8. records relating to the procurement of materials, 1942-45 (0.3 ft.)(MLR Entry 70, I 7), arranged by subject. This is a list of purchase orders and export license applications and issuances.

9. inventories of railroad cars, n.d. (0.3 ft.)(MLR Entry 71, I 7), arranged by type of car. These are inventories of standard- and narrow-gauge freight, passenger, and other working cars, and condemned or retired cars of the Mexican National Railways. The inventories include car number, type of car, date of construction, class, structural information, and load capacity.

10. locomotive repair records, 1944 (1 ft.)(MLR Entry 72, I 7), arranged by locomotive number. Information on the cards includes locomotive number, class, division to which assigned, and notes on failures and repairs.

11. examinations and study book for locomotive firemen and engineers, n.d. (0.1 ft.)(MLR Entry 73, I 7). These two binders contain copies of progressive examinations of the Mexican National Railways for qualification as locomotive firemen and engineers and an examination study book.

12. profiles and repair schedules, 1943-44 (0.1 ft.)(MLR Entry 74, I 7), arranged by type of record. These are maps and profiles of railroad lines between Mexican cities; schedules of track and roadbed conditions; track material required for rehabilitation; and sizes, types, conditions, and repairs required on bridges.

13. records relating to Mexican trainees, 1944 (10 ft.)(MLR Entry 75, I 7), arranged by type of record and thereunder alphabetically by name of applicant. Included are applications, medical certificates, identification cards, and exit information questionnaires used in processing employees of the Mexican National Railways to participate in the U.S. Railway Mission program to send Mexican railroad personnel to the United States for training.