The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1921-10-06
PLAN CONSOLIDATION
NATIONS RAILROADS,
Mean Development Small Branch
es Like Nezperce & Idaho
and Solve Big Transpor-
tation Problem.

Washington, Sept. 30.--The in
terstate commerce commission an
nounced today tentative plans for
the consolidation of all major
railroads Of the United States IN
to 19 systems and gave notice
that hearings would be, called on
the project in the near future,
The proposed consolidation was
authorized by the transportation
act.
In the main, the plan proposed
by the commission is that drafted
under its direction by Professor
William z. Ripley, Harvard Uni
versity, but some variations were
made. The commission said that
while all of the larger or class one
railroads had been included III the
makeup Of its schedule a number
of class two and class three lines
had also been covered.
The commission s proposed l9
systems as outlined today provide
for retention of the competitive
arrangement of transportation
lines. giving most sections of the
country access to two or more OF
the great routes devised. The
principle followed i'll making up
the consolidation was that OF
hitching weaker and less profit
able roads to more prosperous
competitors or connections, at the
same time maintaining the iden-
tity very largely Of existing great
railroads. In some cases branch
lines Of existing roads are sug-
gested for divorce from present
owners and attachment to other
systems, wiuh rearrangemeht OF
terminal facilities.
1t is expected that the plan with
alternative arrangements which
the commission has suggested,
particularly with reference to
New England, will be under con-
sideration and argument for a.
prolonged period, since permis-
sion of the commission and con-
sent of the railroads is required
to every detail before it can be
put into operation. The volun-
tary consolidation plan was adop-
ted by congress as possible
means of facilitating the opera
tion of the American transporta-
ton system under rate regulation,
on the theory that rates allowed
by the interstate commerce COM
mission were being found suffi-
cient to give adequate earnings toI
strong lines while weaker roads
in the same territory could mott
show sufficient earnings to con-
tinue operation.
The foregoing article which ap-
peared among the big news stor-
les Of the metropolitan press last
Friday finds ready consideration
throughout the Northwest, where
its suggestions, if carried out,
would mean more than in any
other portion of the country.
In the grouping of the main
lines under this plan suggested
bv the Interstate Commerce Com
mission the Chicago, Burlington
& Quincy; Northern Pacific
Spokane, Portland & Seattle sys-
TENS are bunchehd as one Of the
nineteen major organizations. I'll
can be readily seen that if the
branches and feeders to this
group. for instance, were taken
up and operated by the general
system, under the one manage
ment and with the same efficient
service the territory covered
would have far greater opportur-
ity for development through
vastly improved transportation
facilities. This, it is reasoned,
would be made possible by max
ing roads which pay the larger
dividends take care of those less
prosperous but quite as necessary
in handling the nations traffic.
And these later lines many Of
the branches and feeders, like our
own Camas Prairie; Craig Noun
tain. nd Nezperce & Idaho
branches-would be brought into
the paying class through the
greater tonnage, etc, accruing IN
their respective districts because
Of the improvement in transporta-
tion-it's inducement to geater
development of the yet dormant
resources.
This is matter our section OF
the country will watch with great 5
interest.
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