Imperial Valley press., 1923-03-05
SHOULD KEEP S. P.
SYSTE M INTACT
SPENCE THINKS
Gives /. c. c. His Views
on Contemplated Con-
sOlidatiOn of Roads

WASH NGION. March D. IN
the consolidation OF the country 5
railroads as contemplated by the
transportation act of 1920, all the
existing parts of the Southern Pa
cific system should remain together,
l.. j. Spence, director of traffic,
Southern Pacific company, stated
before the interstate commerce
commission here.
Mr.. Spence's statement referred
TO that part of the commission s ten
tative railroad consolidation plan
outlining system No. II Southern
PacificRock Island.
As to the merging OF outside prop
serties with Southern Pacific Lines,
Mr.. Spence said, 1.-The Southern Pa
eific company does not covet the
property of any of its neighbors.
Our system efficiently accommo-
dates the traffic within the see
tion of the country in which if op-
crates. From a purely selfish stand
point we would prefer to have the
system extended into the territories
beyond its present gateways, how
ever mere suggestions to be left
alone, would not be helpful to the
commission in the execution of the
difficulties which have been imposed
upon it. Desiring to be helpful, we
approach the subject, upon the as
sumption that there are to be
united number of consolidated svs-
TENS formulated by the commits
sion''
Comparative Distances
Mr.. Spence pointed out that if
the Southern Pacific is to compete
actively against the Union Pacific
and Santa Fe to the Eastern con
liections with the Rock Island and
FL Paso and South Western, are
indispensable. He showed compare
tive distances between Los Angeles
and Chicago hv the respective
routes, as follows: Union Pacific
2299 miles, Santa Fe 1928 miles,
Southern Pacific, Ell Paso Western, T
Rock Island, 22sl miles.
The witness suggested that the .
present Rock Island system, suit
ably supplemented and strengthened .
might be made separate southwest
ern system, which would naturally
complement the Southern Pacific
lines and preserve the : existing
through routes and channels of .
trade and commerce. between the
middle west and southern Califor-
nia, Arizona, Mexico, New Mexico
and Texas, including export bust
ness through gulf ports. The in
elusion of the Rock Island in the
same system as the Southern Pacif- 1
ic and Ell Paso and Southwestern
would create a logical eonsolida- /
ton. except that the lines of the .
Rock Island running from Omaha
to Denver and Colorado springs
would have no appropriate place and
would perform no useful function.
He said, ''In such a consolidated
system the Southern Pacific fully
eoncurs with the Union Pacific as
to the improperly of including
those lines in system number II and
joins, in asking that they be elimi-
mated from such systems.
Not Self Sufficient
Mr.. Spence showed that the Sou
thern Pacific lines in Texas and
Louisiana are not in themselves self
sufficient and are not capable if
left alone or if united with other
southwestern lines, of maintaining
for the public high degree of eff
ficieney in operation.
These rail lines he continued,
depend for their access to the
Atlantic seaboard territory upon the
steamship service operated by the
Southern Pacific company, between
Gulf and northern Atlantic ports,
they provide a half rail and half
steamship through route between
California and the Atlantic sea
board territory, which. by its in
herent economy of operation, may
continue to engage i'll competition
for business between the two coasts.
for which the more expensively op-
Grated all rail lines can not COM
pete with the canal steamship
lines, TO which the freight between
the two coasts, Of a character that
can be handled by steamship. has
'tth eiuiOsl NHtlTttN QlNCTlcu.
Central Pacific properties, which
the interstate commerce commits
sion recently authorized the South
ern Pacific company to retain un-
der the transportation act of 1920,
should remain with other Southern
Pacific lines, he said. .'Cen-
tral Pacific and Southern Pacific
are as independent for use and OPP
Grafton as they are interlaced
physically and inter-related histori-
caliy and financially said Nj.
Spence. Efficient public service AT
minimum cost is the heart of the
transportation problem. il Is the
goal of the transportation act and
has been the aim of transportation
managers That the Southern Pacif-
ie system has provided transporta-
non sefviee of unexcelled efficiency
will, we think, be conceded by all
Central Pacific.
The witness pointed out that the
major use Of the Central Pacific
lines is for traffic moving exelu-
sively between points IA the Pacif-
ie states west of Ogden and Fl Paso
inclusive.
The Ogden and El Paso routes,
respectively, are required and used
for accommodation of traffic be-
tween different sections oes the
country - Mr. Spence showed At