Bisbee daily review., 1913-03-11
ROCK ISLAND
 MAI TALKS
Extension of F. P. & s. ". to Coast May Occur, But This Construction Is Not Nov Contemplated
DEPENDS ON THE s. ?.


 The Los Angeles Examiner prints the following concerning an interview with Henry T. Nudge, president os the Rock Island system. now in Pasa- deHa for a few weeks enjoyment Of a change in climate;
 Ir. Nudge declared yesterday that his company has no intention of build Ing 10 tn5 Pacific. Hbr las the closely affiliated road the EI T'aso and South western. unless driven lo do so in order to get their share of the Pa citir Ccasr traffic
 TT the TuscramfHing' Of the Union pacific and Southern Pacific" said President Nudge. "is genuine. We ought tn fare better than we have t. the past, though cur relations with Inc S0Ethern Pacific have been stis. factory If the merger js genuinely broken, it will be natural for the SoatEern Pacific 70 seek the long haul and light grades cf its southern route for it's freigbt traffic, in which case We viii handle it from El Faso east.
 But of the Southern Pacific has reason to favor the Cuion Pacific and choose the shorter haul for itself, to Ogden. the Fl Paso and Southwestern may De forced to buUd to the coast. p
 President Nudse's declaration, even coupled as it Is with expression os tine belief that this extreme course wiii not be necessary. throws a bright sidolisht on the present railroad sit nation and discioses the threat of a new transcontinentaI line which the Rock Island holds over the Southern Pacific unless thaf road elects to make its southern route the main artery of ifs traHscoHtiental traffic.
 Roads Closely Affiliated
 The Ei Faso and Southwestern rail road is not controlled by the Rock Island, but three Of the directors Of the Fl Paso and Southwestern are di- rectors Of the Rock Island.
 Further, the Fl Paso and South western depends for it's throGgh traf- fc upon the Rock Island: and in ef- feet the Fl Faso and Southwestern is the farfhest-wsst extension of the Rock Island.
 The Rock Islands tracks end at fFautA itJ-fi .4NtW tltAtt3s anu HUH there to Fl Tasc, some 2s2 miles to the southwest. the Rock Island uses the tracks Of the Fl Paso and South western. To the west the Fl Paso and Southwestern mas extended its line with almost no local business
 There arc railroads enough now to handle the California traffic if .f is properly distributed bat if the South. eru Pacific favors the northern ront0 in spite Of the Waserambling,' the Ei t'.-so ana Southwestern will be left practically without a share in trans continental traffic. Tn that case 1t might be forced to build to the coast.
 Profits SnaiI, Is Assertion
 As to the general railroad situation. Mr Nudge said railroad men were not very optimistic.
 We expect plenty of traffic" ha said, but we cannot see much prOfit in it for us. Rates have been con stantly decreased while bSsh the labor schedule and the cost of nearly everything we have to buy haYe steadily increased. We are left to do business on a narrow margin of prof its and heavy traffic does not mean great prosperity for the railroads as it used to mean
 President Mndge denied that his trip 10 California had any business significance. He said he had not known that Ripley and other 9romins