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 word picture of city OF
more than 100000 inhabitants, Ben
jamin F. Bush, recently elected pres
ident of the Western Pacific, predicted
the future at a 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
Panama canal the city will have more
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
'It is un-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
the hearty support of the American
| people We ask for your Cooperation
| Mr. Bush said he had always been an
Eadmirer of California and San Fran
cisco and that San Francisco was rep
resentative of the state.
There is not parallel in history
perhaps, of a city of this magnitude
tbeing rehabilitated after passing
through such a disaster as that o.
seven years ago. and thenSin so shor'
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 hin
that il any city in the world should
profit by the opening of the canal thai
city was San Francisco. He declared
it was a qualification to him to have
had a 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 wa,
possible" said Mr. Bush. land at the
same time maintain the local service
upon a high standard.
| IF there are any communities tha'
we find we can serve. and the condi-
tions Justify these extensions and the
condition of the money market viii
permit, we will be willing and glad tt
add to our system"
Alluding to the future of San Fran
cisco and California, Mr.. Bush said tha
no one, in his opinion, after havins
last few years could help but be won
derfully and favorably impressed.
You have been marking time ou
here, perhaps. as have the people al
over the entire country said tn
speaker, but 1 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 gam
was as much of a game for the peopl
and himself as 1t was for the railroa'
stock holders,
Il am glad to say that California ha
been most fair In the treatment of tn
railroads" said he, "and that this stat
has not swung to the radical as som
| of the other states have done.
| i,
Transportation companies which hav
| served you"
Mr.. Bush said the railroad had KEEP
| pace with the march of progress an
that the transportation question ha
now reached a point where it was
government one. The people have tn
protection of the interstate commerc
commission, he said; the laboring ma
the union The railroads should hav
protection, too. he said.
MANY MEMBERS PRESENT
More than 500 club members were a
tables in the Commercial club dinin
room when Mr.. Bush was introduced b.
Frederick j. Roster, vice president O
the club, who presided. With MI
| Rush at the guests table were E.
Brown. vice president of the Wester
Pacific. and II other officials of tn
Gould lines.
| Following his address, Mr. Bush sal
that San Francisco would always be tn
Western Pacific headquarters, and tha
the road would not lose any of it's in
dividuality owing to the recent uni
fication of the Gould systems.
The day was dark and threatenin
outside Leaving the speakers table
Mr.. Bush and Mr.. Roster stro1led t
the eastern end of the dining roor
and for a few seconds the railroa
nresident gazed out upon the bay tn
hills. the cities across the bay, tn
harbor and San Francisco itself
President Bush will inspect the rail
road terminals in Oakland this morn
ling. leaving the Western Pacific Offices
i Thirteenth and Broadway. Oakland a
10 o'clock He will be the guest o
the Oakland Chamber of Commerce a
l12:30 o'clock in luncheon at Hote