Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-02
THE CONSOLIDATION
OF RAILROADS

been taking testimony relative to
its general scheme for the %consoli-
dation of railways, which subject
has been under consideration by
that body for some time. This
movement had its origin in a ten
tative report which was sent out by
the commission under date Of Au-
gust 3, 1921. The plan was drawn
in the first instance under the per-
sonal direction of Professor Will
liam z. Ripley of Harvard univer-
sity and, within the suggestions
made by this report, provided for
consultations throughout the
country.
With the taking Of this testi-
mony at Washington by the ON
mission, there naturally arises an
intense interest as different Sec
tons of the country give consider
alton to the effect that would re-
suit from these notifications upon
the business of the different re-
gional districts, states or comrnun-
tiles. The hearings before the
commission may go on for a con-
siderable time. It has also been
indicated in the news reports that
conferences may be held at various
cities throughout the country, so
that the public may have easier &C
cess to the deliberations upon this
important subject. In the hear
ings at Washington, testimony is
being taken from the representa-
tives of the railroads.
There are two plans in which
Montana and the city of Great
Falls are interested. They are
technically known as plan No. IA
and plan No. IS.
Mr.. Ripley's plan No. II sug-
gests the consolidation of the Bur
lington-Northern Pacific railways
and includes the following lines:
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy,
Northern Pacific,
Chicago Great Western,
Minneapolis & St. Louis,
Spokane. Portland & Seattle.
Mr.. Ripley's plan No. IS sug-
gests Milwaukee-Great Northern
consolidation involving the follow
ing lines:
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul,
Great Northern,
Chicago, Terre Haute & South
eastern,
Duluth & Iron Range,
Duluth, Missabe & Northern,
Green Bay & Western.
While these two plans have been
up for the taking of testimony be-
fore the commission, it has been
interesting to note the actions that
have been taken by different COM
msrcial bodies in various cities.
Each community of cours takes
the position which it thinks would
work out best for the transaction
of its particular business. In this
regard, the problem becomes n
something like the tariff-that is,
the expression in each instance is
the local viewpoint. Opinions diff
fer, for instance, as given by some
of the cities of North Dakota and
by those of Montana.
Officials of the Great Northern
railway have been before the COM
mission taking the position that
if there is to be consolidation in
this northwest, that the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy and the
Northern Pacific and the Great
Northern should be united into one
system. This has always been the
efficiency idea, and was in the
first instance urged by the late
James J. Hill. Such a union a num-
Der of years ago was prevented by
court action. The Great Northern
railway also took a position at the
hearing that if the original plan OF
Mr.. Hill for a union of north
western roads could not be ap-
proved, and if there must needs be
consolidation, that the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul should be
united with the Northern Pacific,
because it was claimed that such
q consolidation would be more in
keeping with the geography of the
country and the ultimate service
that would result for this section
Of the United States.
This subject came up for consid-
Grafton by the directors of the
Great Falls Commercial club just
a few days ago. There was no d.
vision Of opinion So far al the III