The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-09-04
MAY MOVE ". P.
GENERAL OFFICES

cashiers and treasurer Offices of the
Western Pacific to Denver, there to be
consolidated with the respectively sim
liar departments of the Denver and
Rio Grande, Gould railroad men sta
toned in San Francisco are exerting
what influence they can to preserve
the identity of the Western Pacific as
a California railroad, says the
Chronicle.
Indirect protests-indirect because
OF the insecurity of the protestants
position under the new regime-have
been forwarded to New York, where
President Bush, Vice-President Brown
and other Western Pacific officials
have been in conference for some
time, and to these have been added
further protests made by shippers.
Economy Is Object
Among Bush IS plans for the merg-
er of the Denver and Rio Grande an
Western Pacific is the one calling for
the removal of ceita'1 of the West
ern Pacific general Offices tc Denver.
The purpose of this, it is authorita-
lively declared, IS an economical On
Bush believing that, in.smach as the
Missouri Paci6, system will be re
quired to Obtain and spend millions IN
Western Pacific betterments, such as
extensions, feeders, etc, every possi-
bic manner of economizing in opera
tion and maintenance should be exer-
cised for the present.
He believes, it is automatically stat
ed, that the unifcation of such Offices
as those mentioned would bring about
big saving in the annual operative
cost.
Such step, ii is declared, would
not be very beneficial to the Western
Pacific in California, this according
to local railroad men who are interest
ed in seeing the newest transcontinen-
tai road entering San Francisco forge
ahead, fhey say il would destroy the
natural prestige the Western Pacific
now enjoys as a California rail cor
poration, and furthermore would ne
cessitate the transmission of much
business that ought to be settled here
in San Francisco, bringing about much
correspondence, and, as consequence,
proportionate amount of delay IN
settling purely local business between
state shippers and the Western Pa
cfic.
Local Force Depleted.
The Santa Fe and Southern Pacific,
of course, are not worrying any about
the proposal Bush is said to sponsor
If he should put the plan into eff
feet, their representatives say, it
would be a boon for both the older
roads. The removal of the three de-
partments of the general offices of the
Western Pacific would reduce the
strength and Importance of Western
Pacific offices here, leaving, as a mat
ter Of fact it is said, only terminal
agencies for the Missouri Pacific sys-
TEN, of which the Western Pacific now
proves the third and west coast link.
While the attorneys for the system
are working on the plans for the con.
solidation of the Rio Grande and
Western Pacific, they are bit in
doubt as to the outcome of the rail
road commission s consideration of the
plan of removal of the three general
office departments. The Western Pa
eifie is a California corporation, and
under the law, it is maintained,
it is required that every such
shall retain its prin-
cipal offices in the state. Whether the
cashier s, auditors and treasurer s
offices would be considered "'priaci-
pal' depends on the definition the
commission would desire TO place upon
it, it is said.
Lovett's Expedient Cited.
kailraad offieials say that this was
ene of the main troubles of the South
ern Pacific before Judge Lovett an
nounced a policy of local management
which resulted in Sproule being named
for the Southern Pacific in San Fran
cisco, Mohler for the Union Pacific
Line in Oregon. They say the policy
of local management has also been il
lustrated in the New York and New
Haven lines, which are to have local
under President Elliott,
who has just succeeded Charles Mel
len.
Bush has already effected consider
able salary reduction on the Western
Pacific The doubt that might be en-
tertained as to his retrenchment
policy for the present has been exem-
phfied, it is pointed cut, In his cutting
of salaries. though he promised the
men that they would soon regain their
old remuneration standing as soon as
conditions would Justify.
1t Ia also authoritatively declared
that the probability of Bush ordering
severance Of traffic pacts with the
Union Pacific at Denver and Southern
Pacific will soon be manifested in
plans for the exclusive routing of Mis-
souri, Pacific business over Missouri
Pacific lines. For the present the old
pacts, whereby the roads interchange,
are being maintained, pending action
by Bush and his associates.
Western Pacific Notes.