The San Francisco call., 1913-07-23
B. F. Bush, Head Of Western
Pacific. Tells Commercial
Club Coming Days
Are Promising
MAKES PROMISE OF
BETTER FACILITIES
Future of San Francisco and
State Will Be Enhanced
by Panama Canal


Painting a word picture of a city OF
more than 100000 inhabitants, Ben
jamin F. Bush. Recently elected pres
ident Of the Western Pacific, predicted
the future at luncheon rendered him
by the Commercial club yesterday
Mr. Bush said his forecast of Sar
Francisco was that within FIVE years
after ships begin passing through the
than doubled in population.
Mr. Bush made other complimentary
| remarks about San Francisco and Cal
ifornia before he touched upon the ques.
tion of railroads. And then he said
the railroads were down and out.
PLEADS FOR RAILROADS
TT is n-American to strike man
when he Is down and out" said Mr.
Bush, after alluding to the attitude OF
the people and the government toward
the transportation companies OF the
United States. The railroads of this
| country are down now, and they can not
they will not-go ahead making I'M
provements and building extensions un-
til the public sentiment has changed
The railroads require and must have
people. We ask for your cooperation.
Mr.. Bush said he had always been an
admirer of California and San Fran
cisco and that San Francisco was rep
resenfafiye of the slate
There is not parallel in history,
perhaps. of a city sof this magnitude
being rehabilitate ted after passing
through such a dis sser as that OF
seven years ago. ans 4nen in so short
a time undertaking to promote and
finance such gigantic, task as that of
the Panama Pacific exposition he said.
Mr.. Bush added that it seemed to him
that if any city in the world should
profit by the opening of the canal that
city was San Francisco. He declared
it was a qualification to him to have
had hand, even in a. small way. in the
upbuilding of San Francisco and the
state.
WILL IMPROVE FACILITIES
1T is my intention to improve the
transcontinental transportation facili-
ties of our lines in every way
possible" said Mr.. Bush, "and at the
same time maintain the local service
upon a high standard.
IF there are any communities that
we find we can serve. and the condi
| he
condition of the money market will
permit, we will be willing and glad to
add to our system"
Alluding to the future of San Fran
cisco and California, Mr.. Bush said that
no one, in his opinion, after having
visited the state as he has during the
last few years could help but be won-
derfully and favorably impressed.
You have been marking time out
here, perhaps, as have the people all
over the entire country said the
speaker, but I feel certain that con-
ditions will soon right themselves
With regard to the antagonistic feel
ing of the people against the railroads,
Mr. Bush said the transportation game
was as much of a game for the people
and himself as 1t was for the railroad
stock holders.
Il am glad to say that California has
been most fair in the treatment of the
railroads." said he, "and that this state
has not swung to the radical as some
of the other states have done. 1t
speaks well for the people and for the
transportation companies which have
served YOU"
Mr.. Bush said the railroad had kept
pace with the march OF progress and
now reached a point where it was a
government one. The people have the
protection of the interstate commerce
commission. he said; the laboring man
the union The railroads should have
protection, too, he said.
MANY MEMBERS PRESENT
More than 800 club members were at
tables in the Commercial club dining
room when Mr.. Bush was introduced by
Frederick j. Roster, vice president of
the club, who presided. With Mr..
Bush at the guests table were E. /.
Brown. vice president of the Western
Pacific, and II other officials of the
Gould lines.
Following his address, Mr.. Bush said
that San Francisco would always he the
Western Pacific headquarters, and that
the road would not lose any of its in
dividuality owing to the recent uni
fication of the Gould systems.
The day was dark and threatening
outside. Leaving the speakers table
Mr.. Bush and Mr.. Roster stroIled To
the eastern end of the dining room
and for a few seconds the railroad
president gazed out upon the bay. the
hills, the cities across the bay. the
harbor and San Francisco itself.
President Bush will inspect the rail-
road terminals In Oakland this morn
ing. leaving the Western Pacific ofices.
Thirteenth and Broadway. Oakland at
10 o'clock He will be the guest Of
the Oakland Chamber of Commerce at
1890 o'clock in luncheon at Hotel
Oakland.
i,