The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1913-06-06
P & S ". IS To
MERGE ITS
LINES.
Makes Application to Consolidate All
It's Subsidiary Railroad Concerns.

/ PHOENIX, Ariz., June 3.-Much
significance is attached in Arizona 10
the action of the Ell Paso e South
! western in applying to the corpora
ZION commission for permission to
consolidate the six compan cs conf rcl-
ing the system into one corporation,
and also for physical valuation of
that part of the system lying within
this state.
InlS action, taken with statement
OF what it would cost to reproduce the
Arizona lines of he E. P & S. w.
which has been filed with the tax
commission, is believed by some 10
portend the issuance of bonds to ex-
tend the system to San Diego from
Tucson, but officials say that it only
means that the company. wants TO
simplify its business.
Will confide In the Public.
1t is common talk about the capitol
that officials of the E. P. & S. ".
nave declared their intention of TAX
ing the public into their confidence
fully and trusting to the peoples
sense of justice to permit them TO
earn fair return on the companr's
/ investment.
! With the tax commission, the E. p.
q s. w. has filed statement show
ing that it would cost in the neigh
borhood of $10,00O,O00 to reproduce
the main line and branches in Ar1-
IONA. This does not mean, however,
that the E. P. & S. w. is willing 10
be taxed for $1O,000,OOO.
| The corporation commission is
asked to permit the consolidation of
the parent company with the five sub
salaries which control the branches,
/ to permit the maintenance of one set
OF general offices and to make it pos
sible to concentrate the adminiStra-
ton of the system in various ways.
/ 1t is stated in the application that
has been filed with the corporation
commission that the company wishes
to effect consolidation of its various
consent and approval of the public
Its Arizona Holdings.
! In Arizona the E. P. & S. w. com
pany controls 45S.S3 miles of track.
This includes the main line, running
through Douglas and Bisbee to Tao
SON, also branches to CORTLAND and
Tombstone. The Indebtedness m
the Arizona holdings average Sal, 900
mile. IN New Mexico the mileage
is 440.44, and the Indebtedness is only
$4,000 a mile. Altogether the com
pany controls S9S34 miles of track
The request for a physical examin
alton, it is stated in the application,
is in order that the public may know
just what the system is worth and
what a fair profit on the investment
would be. In New Mexico the sap:e
requests have been made of the state
corporation commission.
Some months ago when the rail
roads of Arizona began to fight the
three cent fare and full crew laws,
the E. p. & S. w. filed with the at
torney general, federal court, corpora
ton commission and tax commission
statement showing what it had cos.
to build the Phelps-Dodge lines n
this state. The figures was in the
neighborhood of $10,000,000.
With this reproduction cost, how
ever, many things that have no bes r
ing on the actual physical value IF
the road were figured in. For n
stance, in many places the road has
been Strengthened and in others n.,w
track has been put down. The cost
of both tracks is included in the sta e.
ment. The CORTLAND and Tomh
stone branches, both of which are
operated at loss because they peae
trate sections in which little business
originates, are also included. Tee
company would not be willing to pay
taxes on what those branches cost for
construction
It is now reported, however, that
the Santa Fee is to file the same kind
of statement The Southern Pa
cific and Arizona Eastern will not do
so. A number of Santa Fee officials
are now in Phoenix, preparing the
figures that are to be submitted TO
the commission.