File No. 812.77/143a.

The Secretary of State to the Presidents of the eighty-six railway companies of the United States operating lines of five hundred miles or more.

Sir: By direction of the President, the Department of State announces that, according to reports from diplomatic and consular officers, there are present in the border towns of Texas and out of employment about eighty American railway conductors and about eighty-three locomotive engineers, until now in the service of the National Railways of Mexico. Believing that possibly the skill and experience of these men could be advantageously availed of by the railroad companies of the United States, the President has directed that this situation be brought to their notice in order that, in case such railroad companies have occasion to make use of their services, these conductors and engineers may promptly secure employment.

[Page 924]

If it is convenient and possible to give employment to any of these men, they can be reached through Mr. C. E. Webb, in Chargé of the Order of Locomotive Engineers, San Antonio, Texas, or Mr. D. F. Anderson, in Charge of the Order of Railway Engineers, at Laredo, Texas.

I am [etc.]

P. C. Knox.