Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-11
ROADS OPPOSE
.L.C. c. PLAN
OF GROUPING
Great Northern, N. p. and
Burlington Present
Statement.

Bismarck, N. D.. Nov. 11.-Pro-
posed consolidation 1of the Great
Northern. Northern Pacific and
Burlington railroads was laid before
Governor r. A. Nestos, Assistant At
torney General George Shafer and v.
e. Smart traffic manager Of the state
railway commission. by General
Northern. and N. c! Young, repre-
senting the Northern Pacific.
Mr.. Countryman explained that the
railroads were submitting their stat
ments at this time in accordance with
an order of the interstate commerce
commission that the matter OF the
proposed consolidation Of the chief
railway systeRs of the country be
laid before the officials Of the various
states affected. No request for a
ruling or statement of opinion was
made. .tF
The statement set forth that the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific
were opposed to the plan proposed by
the interstate commerce commission.
under which the Burlington and
Northern Pacific would be made q
part Of the same consolidation group,
but the Great Northern would be
separated and aligned with the Chi
! cago, Milwaukee and st. Paul.
! also be presented to the interstate
| commerce commission at hearing
to be held in Washington on Novem-
Der II.
Against Best Interests.
The statement says in part:
The Burlington management feels
that 1t would be against the best in
terests of the Burlington railroad and
of the country served by 1t, II 1t were
now cut off from either one of These
powerful connections which have
participated so effectively in the up.
building Of the traffic. Likewise tht
Northern Pacific and the Grea1
Northern each feels that 1t could no
afford to be cut Oft from the inter
change Of traffic with the Burlington
which has been brought about by thu
large investment 1t has made in thu
Burlington properties. and that thu
public interest could not possibly b
served by any such divorce proceed
inSs. q
Therefore, the arrangements ot al
three companies propose to represen
to tho commission at the hearing q,
November II that any plan which tn,
.EcoYpnisstsn NH r.. decide to"-'adoD
shoIid not exEtTde either the Grea
:, Northern Or the Northern Phch
from the group or system in whicl
+ the Burlington Is placed; but, on tn
contrary, should include all three 0
these railroads in the same group
system. %, %
Competition Question.
In making this representation t
the commission. the three companie
will show that there is no competi
ton between the Burlington an
either the Great Northern or North
ern Pacific. They will further sho1
that the great bulk Of traffic which
now competitive between the Grea
Northern and the Northern Pacific
;! would still continue to be competitiv
If both companies were placed in tn
same group with the Burlington an
If the three companies were subse
quently actually able to consolidate O.
terms satisfactory to the commission
Such competition would still exist be
cause almost all of this traffic coul
still be handled by other railroad
not included in the group. For ex
ample, all the traffic between Paclfi
coast points and tho Twin Cities. an
nearly all the important intermediat
points, could also be handled by othe
roads such as the Union Pacific
the Chicago. Milwaukee & st. Pau
!, Probably less than two per cent c
the entire trahic which moves owe
I the Northern Pacific and Grea
! Northern would move between point
which are now competitive as be
tween the Great Northern and North
!, ern Pacific and which have no othe
railroad which would still remain
competitor.
Public Interest
An important part OF the pros
\ perity Of the Burlington has been du
to it's interchange of trafic with eac
OF the other two companies. An i'm
portant part Of the prosperity
each Of, the other two companies hs
q been due to- its interchange of tram
! with the Burlington. The countr
served, by these lines has benefite
: by this prosperity and indeed 1t hs
been the building up Of the countr
3 through the facilitationi Of these cor
lnections which has led to this II
4 creased prosperity lof these railroad
The arrangements of all three CON
panies therefore feel that the show
Ing which they will make to tn
4 commission viii be a showing in tn
. public interest, and they trust thu
S the public authorities throughout tn
,, regions interested in the matter WI
.. / sive careful consideration to the d.
: tailed reasons which the three CON
panies will present to the commi'