The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-07
Central Pacific L. 7. and Alton
Katy Combine Soon.
Topeka Railway Circles Stirred
Over RumOred Plan.
GREAT BOOM TO union PACIFIC
Add 2,267 Mileage and Own
Rails to Pacific Coast.
Alton Deal Would Connect Chi
cagO and the Gulf.

ldAlo A0E AAAt purchase VI tAiN N~llt~
trail Pacific railway by the Union Pa
cific and consolidation of the Chicago
x Alton and the Missouri. Kansas &
Texas lines are under way. according
TO reports reaching Topeka today.
The reports. coming from various
sources. have created quite stir in
Topeka railroad circles inasmuch as a
combination Of the Chicago < Alton
lines with the katy" affording each
system a direct line from Chicago to
the Gulf would be a direct move
against tho Santa Fe.
A shorter passenger haul of seven
hours in Compar son with the santa
Fe would result from the deal. it is
said. but at the Santa Fe general Of
ficeS here il was pointed out tpat
neither of the proposed combinations
would likely be carried out on account
of recent decisions by the supreme
court uphOlding the Sherman anti
trust law against such monopohes-
It was the action OF the supreme
rlourt in divorc.ug the Central Pacific
from the Southern Pacific recently
however. that has given rise 10 the
plan OF the Union PACING to take over
the Central Pacific. il is said. and tur-
ther impetus has been given to both
projects by a request from the inter-
state commerce commission that they
be carried out for economic reasons
Add 2.267 Miles TO L. p.
Plans for the purchase of the Cen
trail Pacific are now being worked ou-
in the legal offices of the Union Pa
cific at Omaha. If the purchase Is
carried out il will add 2.261 miles 70
the Union Pacific's mileage. and will
give the Union Pacific its own rails
from Chicago to California While
the Union Pacific uses the Central Pa
cific lines a { present. its own line ter
inmates at ogden. Utah
Both c +. Schaff receiver of the
NJ X & T. and W. 6. Bierd. president
of the Chicag x Alton. issued state
ments today denying the proposed
merger of the two roads, but in other
circles it is said that denials from the
two heads were nothing more than
could be expected at this time. and
that the deal is almost certain to go
thru 1t is known that definite steps
have been taken towards dissolu-
the action everywhere is regarded as
a forerunner to a merger with the
Chicago & Alton One report has IL
that NIr. Schaff is to become the di-
recting head of the united systems
Advantage of Combination.
Consolidation of the Chicago & Alton
and the NJ. K & T. lines has been un-
der consideration for some time. it is
said. and for very natural reasons
The former has complete system be
tween Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas
city but has no line to the Gulf or
the big southwest agricultural terri
tory. The Katy" has the lines in
the southwest, connecting with both
Kansas City and St. Louis but no line
to Chicago. The two together would
make an ideal combination, rail Off
cials say.
With its line from Fort Scott east
thru Sedalia. Mo, IL is pointed out
that the new company would have
direct line for thru business from
Chicago to Gulf points without passing
thru the tedious terminals at either
St. Louis or Kansas City. and further
more would eliminate any necessity
whatever for transfer between the two
lines.
If the proposed purchase of the
Central Pacific by the Union Pacific
is carried out. il is said that the Mis-
souri, Pacific. the Denver. Rio Grande
& Western and several other roads
are almost sure TO contest the COM
bination before the supreme court on
the same grounds that the South Pa
cific and Central Pacific were recently
divorced. and it is reported that SINH
lar action probably will be taken by
the Santa Fe II the Chicago < Alton
and katy lines combine.
Alexander Hilton. vice president Of
the St Louis & San Francisco lines
gave out a statement at Kansas City
today to the effect that so far as he
knew the Frisco would not he merged
with the Texas & Pacific system.
consolidation which has also been
rumored Mr.. Hilton also pointed out
that the recommendation of the in
terstate commerce commission for
such consultations was general and
that no doubt many mergers would be
proposed