The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-17
IN RAILWAY CIRCLES.
Consolidation of the Oregon Short
Line and Utah & Northern.
THE THREE OTHER COMPANIES.
Interesting Developments May be Expected al
the Coming Meetings---The Rio Grande
EXtension---General.

For some time past the question of a con-
solidation of the branch lines of the Union
Pacific system centering at Ogden has been
under consideration. The necessary papers
have been drawn up and the directors have
before them the immediate consolidation of
the Oregon Short Line and the Utah g.
Northern railroad companies.
Tho first step to bring about this arrange
ment was taken at meeting of the trustees
of the Oregon Short Line last week, and the
succeeding steps will be taken as rapidly as
circumstances will permit. By the consoli-
datiOn of the Oregon Short Line and the
Utah & Northern companies, all questions of
rates and division of business as between
these two companies will be settled.
The consolidated company viii operate
or miles of railroad between Granger and
Ogden on the south and Huntington and
Butte on the north and west. The gross
income of the consolidated companies for
the past year was 81 IN, 900; operating
expenses 81, $50, 900: net revenue, 81, $50, COO
or S5I5, 900 above fixed charges.
The question of Incorporating with this
company the other Utah lines of the Union
Pacific system is also under consideration.
There are three of these companies, the
I
Lake u Western, siXty-eight miles; the
Utah i Nevada, thirty-seven miles. Should
this large consolidation be decided upon,
l,2l2 miles of road would thus be brought
under one management instead of being
under four arrangements as at present.
The proposed consolidation, if carried out
in all of its parts, viii undoubtedly exercise
an influence, not only upon the affairs of
the Union Pacific, but upon the future
development of the whole territory tribu-
tary to Salt Lake city and Ogden.
The above IS from the Omaha Herald,
which is recognized as an authority upon
all Union Pacific movements. 1t is also
learned that steps will be at once taken to
change the gauge Of the Utah & Northern
10 standard width. At the conclusion of
this work the trains viii run direct to this
city, thus avoiding the annoyance of trans
fer at Ogden. That the Utah Central pee
pie have decided to build 10 the coast is be-
yOnd question; that both the owners of the
local road and the managers of the great
Union Pacific system have agreed that the
work should be done is beyond DOUBT. And
il has been limited in certain quarters
that the only reason why dirt has not com
menced to fly ere this, is because of dis
agreement between the two companies ''as
to terms What these terms are, or the
difficulties in arriving at an understanding,
our informant does not state, but he limited
that the obstacles in the way are not so
serious as TO be insurmOuntable. That all
disagreements viii be brushed aside within
the next two weeks is almost certain, and
we may expect some interesting develop
ments not only at the coming meeting to be
held in Boston, but also at the meeting of
the Utah Central stockholders, which oc-
ours on Saturday next.
The purchasing by Mr.. Hubbard Of the
ground in the vicinity Of the Utah Central
railway depot may, after all, have more sig
nifcance than would at first appear That
the Union Pacific people have always looked
upon Salt Lake as being virtually the
terminus of their road is evident from the
fact that their headquarters are located
here; here it is where their big officials
congregate, and here is all their business
done.
1t is not a wild guess to say that we shall
have some important railway news for our
readers ere a month has elapsed.