Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-17
Separation OF Great Northern
From Hill Group Is Sus-
gested; Two Great Sys-
TEN. Would Be Built
Around Til, Road And
Northern Pacific; All Con-
]. eerned To Be Heard.

Washington. Nov. 17.-Whether
transcontinenta1 railroads in the
northwest should be copeolidated In
to two regional systems, one built
around the Great Northern and the
Chicago. Milwaukee and st. Paul, and
tie other around the Northern Pa
cific and the Chicago. Burlington and
Quincy was taken up for detailed con-
alteration at hearing today before
the interstate commerce commission.
Representatives Of the "Hill' group.
including the Northern Pacific, Great
Northern ana Burlington, were given
first hearing ana Through Walker D.
Hines. formerly director general Of
railroads. they attacked the consoli-
dation plan which would result in a
separation in their nresent unified
holdings. .t.
Other railroads concerned. includ-
ing the Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul through its president, H. E..
Byram, and tho Duluth, Missabe and
Northern, one Of the iron ore car
r1ers, a. we'll - various state railroad
commissions also were represented-at
the 2hearings.
Proposal Of Congress.
Commissioner Hall explained the
commission was proceeding under the
general instruction Of congress to pre-
pare consolidation plan that would
combine all the major railroads in the
United States into 1S or 20 great
regional systems. The commission,
the northwest to separate the Great
Northern from the present "Hill'
group, and com bine It with tho Chi
eago. Milwaukee and st. Paul and
/. thus create two strong systems in the
same territory.
However, the commissions plan
IL not to bc taken as a prejudgment OF
the situation" Commissioner Han de-
i, olared. 1T represents an attack at
tho Dsneral problem and q basis foz
building up the fullest record Of fact
and argument which the commission
can elicit to aid It in decisions and the
nhnlnGs from the record. !" 81 81. 8 u ~
t.:s's t.SsSs Hines Hcard First Il; ~,
& Nj. Hines proceeded directly to 81
argument for the setting aside Of tths
tentative plAn.g 1T was expected hs
would be followed by Hale Holden
president of ths Burlington: Charles
Donnelly; president OF the Northern
Pacific, and Ralph Budd, president q
the Great Northern, Louia N. Hlll
who has succeeded to direction OF at,
eAntzation Of the three corporations
I was present but did not expect tt
Hastily. f
! The Burlington, Northern Pacidt
and Great Northern" Mr.. Hines de-
clared. appear for the purpose O
showing that the general public In
terest as we'll as the legitimate inter
Ast Of those three companies requir'
that the lines owned and controlled
by them should be placed in the sam'
group. Their interdependency - no
only ono OF the great existing fact,
IA the railroad situation, but 1t 1s I
situation which has been the out
growth Of planning of tho ablest pio
neers in railroad development. Pros
psrity OF the three. companies ha,
been due to-, tho realization of thi
0Arly planning"
.t@ Presents History.
- Mr.. Hines sketched a brief histor!
OF the construction and financing Q
tho corporations concerned, explain
ing that the Burlington stock ha'
been purchased in 1901 by the tw'
northern lines as . development from
q policy OF Joint operation, and Join
use OF terminals which the three com
p2uAcD NnuSO1AAS aAsNsA .es>A~ksS>~ 49,. =
rs 1888. The actual purchase Of tn
i, Burlington he treated e. simply !
aturther step in the realization Of tn
idea Of handling through traffic b.
those lines" which had been In tn
minds Of their original builders.
t-'We will show from the publ
standpoint" Mr.. Hines said, "the: re
suits: Of the closer ana closer realiza
ton Of the plan. and through Prea
dent Holden OF the Burlington, vii
show the physical, ana traffic xituatiol
OF the Burlington. It's relation to tn
Northern Pacific and Great NofRher
its dependence upon interchange
traffic, the Injurious effects whic
would follow II the tentative group
ing Of the western roads should be
come effective In fact, and the bene
'fcial result II the Burlington, North
ern Pacific and Great Northern wer
grouped toEether." !. iii. Els4 .;s
Nj. Hines Indicated that some q
the evidence to be brought put by tn
corporation he representa- would sua
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