The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-12-02
MERGER
WIDESPREAD TOPIC

Reno. Nevada, November 2s.-The
following statement has been for
warded by Howard Elliot, president
OF the Union Pacific, to +. ID. Wilson,
general agent at Reno. Nevada:
CONGRESSMAN F. w. Mondell Of
Wyoming appeared before the Inter-
state Commerce Commission to-day
to urge denial of the Southern Pa
ciic's application to continue the op-
Grafton Of the Central Pacific in VI
olation Of the Supreme Court deci-
sion.
National Interest demands said
Mr.. Mondell, that the Union Pacific
Central Pacific lines be maintained at
the highest possible efficiency, cap
able of rendering the largest and
best service to the public. There can
be no difference of opinion as to the
absolute necessity Of maintaining
management and control Of every es-
sential portion of this line primarily
and wholly interested in utilizing 1t
to the very greatest extent and in
the pest possible fashion. Any con-
troll or management of any essential
part OF this line that could by any
possibility have an interest other
than that of making this direct line
useful and efficient in the highest de-
gree would defeat the National inter-
est resting in the best utilization Of
this very important artery Of COM
merce. :
81 understand 1t was conceded by
the Southern Pacific counsel in their
brief in the Southern Paciic-C Central
Pacific case that 1t is true of all such
systems that other things being equal
freight is pr~eferentially solicited for
100 per cent haul via Tucson and Ell
Paso. This is the admission hat un-
less the management of the Southern
Pacific were controlled by motives
that control human conduct, they
could not be expected to be interest
ed In or work whole heartedly for
the Central Pacific line, even in the
absence Of this Supreme Court decis-
ion.
"'It would be In the province of
the commission to insist on the man
agement and control of the Central
Pacific other than that of the South
ern Pacific. In view Of the Supreme
Court decision there should be no
question whatever as to the necessi-
ty and wisdom from every viewpoint
Of law and public interest for these
4 = be completely separated, not
onl, :. ownership but In management
and operation. Speaking from the
standpoint OF Wyoming the matter
now before the commission is the
most important issue ever reviewed
by 1t. The main line of the Union
Pacific traverses Wyoming for four
hundred and fifty miles. This Sec
ton is rich In agriculture. livestock
and coal and has apparently unlim-
tied possibilities in oil. A manage
ment OF the Central Pacific which is
not primarily interested in the sue
cess of a through Union Paciic-Cen-
trail Pacific line might easily create a
situation in which the Union Pacific
would lose a large freight tonnage
and the Union Pacific might become
a second or third class line. With
proper development of our resources
and by the upbuilding of brand and
feeder lines would come increased
population. l cannot impress upon
you too strongly the Importance It is
to the people In our State that the
management of the Central Pacific
from Ogden to San Francisco should
be in the hands of those who will
work whole heartedly for this trans
continental line Of which 1t was in
tended to be and which. in the in
terests of the States of the union, 1t
must be a part.
81 have no q~uarrelwith the South
ern Pacific. Its officials must work
for that system. They should not be
expected, nor asked. to serve two in
terests. There Is plenty of room and
opportunity for both Of these lines.
Lcannot too earnestly urge free man.
agement Of this great artery Of COM
merce SO that 1t may AFFORD the best
possible service and rates. Such man
agement and operation cannot. 1t
seems, In the nature of things. be at
forded by the Southern Pacific and
by officials primarily interested in
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