Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-23
BENEFITS OF THE MERGER
President of Darlington Road is n
witness In the Northern Sc
curities Hearing.

ST. PAUL, Oct. 22.-The taking Of testi-
mony for the defendants in the suit OF the
United States and the Northern Securities
company and others interested in the So
called railway merger was resumed today
before Special Examiner lngersoll in the
United States circuit court.
Frederick weyerhauser, a well known
lumberman, who for the last year has been
a Great Northern director, was the first
witness. His testimony tended to show the
greater business convenience OF shipping
over one system as compared with several
systems. He was not cross-examined.
George b. Harris. president Of the Chi
cago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, was the
next witness. He thought the acquisition
OF the Burlington by the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern was the practical extern
sion OF the Burlington to the coast. He
emphasized the extent Of the country
reached by his road where no trees grew and
asserted that Nebraska and some other
states would be almost uninhabited II tim
Der or fuel could not be carried in. He
said the future lumber supply must come
from the Pacific coast. The new Burlington
connection with the northwestern states
helped also In cattle shipments; his line
reached nearly all packing %centers, making
a direct connection between the market and
the grazing sections. His line reached all
Illinois coal fields and up to a few years ago
the supply actually exceeded the demand.
1t was necessary to find new markets;
soft coal was not susceptible Of tranship-
ment because easily broken, and a per-
manent connection with other lines was
sought and finally found in these north
western states, thereby bringing the ship
pers and consumers closer together. He
told of his desire TO extend the Burling-
ton to the north in order to secure lum-
Der shipments and their final decision to
build in that direction. The sale to the
northern lines then came UP and made q
better and more permanent arrangement
for this class Of business. Speaking Of
coal, he said his company hoped by the
union Of interests to secure iron ore as
a return haul for coal sent north. They
were already assured OF the use OF such
iron ore in and about st. Louis.
Mr.. Day, interstate commerce commission
attorney, anime Mr.. Harris, bringing out
the Burlington survey north to Great Falls,
Mont, which the witness said had not yet
been abandoned. He told also of surveys
west of Denver twenty years ago. but ex-
planned that the management simply Sc
cured the facts in order to present them
to the board IL ever wanted. As to the
western lumber rates, there was material
reduction to the people in Nebraska and
Missouri river points.
Recurring to the coal shipments, he said
the union OF interests avoids the reship.
ment of coal and makes possible the haul
ing of unbroken Il. ns from the coal fields.
His road was mss4ked by it's directors. as
1t always had beI, Mr.. Day persisted
in questions as t0i Fhere President Harris
got his orders. NJ Harris said there had
been no change aM48y time in his orders;
that the directors iemed to think, that he
had some commof fense and might use it.
He consulted freely with the directors,
however. regarding the policy to be pur-
sued Agents for the Burlington at various
Pacific coast centers looked after business
- 49, IL. - lhnnn Il LaIIn..nA