The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
WELF ARE OF PORT r INVOLVED Docks Board Opposes Linking Of M. & o.
 With Southern M. & o. FOUNDED. < TO SERVE MOBILE Interest Of Southern In New Orleans Pointed
 Out NEED FOR FRISCO
 sERvICE SHOWN Plan Approved To Ally G. M. & N. With Illinois
 Central
M. & o. FOUNDED TO SERVE MOBILE
NEED FOR FRISCO
 SERVICE SHOWN
Plan Approved To Ally G. M. & N. With Illinois
 Central

MoRILE. Ala. July 26.-(Special Leased Wire. .)--Lengthy arguments Tn support of the request of the state docks commission that the Mobile and Ohio railroad be grouped with the Frisco lines, and concurrence in the proposal that the Gulf, Mobile and Northern be made an ally of the Illinois Central railroad, are contained in a. brief which has just been forwarded to the inter state commerce commission at Wash ington.
 A copy of the brief, fileL in the name of the state by Governor W. ~. Bran don and Judge Thomas c. Mcclellan counsel of the state docks commission, was made public today. It contains many arguments in support of the peti- tion for Mobile and Ohio and Frisco grouping. and opposes the grouping ot tbe Mobile and Ohio with the Southern railroad.
 ..The Southern railway systems nat ural interests, with one reference to the typographical location of the maJor clements of its unity, are allied prlmar- fly with Atlantic ports and because perhaps, to the extent of invested JOCKS capital, with New Orleans, says the brief in opposition to the proposed con solidation of the M. and 0. and South- ern. The brief adds, however, that tne Southern has mot authorltatlvely avowed a preference, one way or the other, in respect of this proposed group ing of the Mobile and Ohio railroad. Southern Owns M. and o.
 Attention of the I..C. c. is called to the fact that Mobile has an important ,,ort. one on which the United States government has spent around $lO,OOO,- 0OO and that the state of Alabama Is now launching a $10,00O,OOO port de- yelopment program. In the brief says that "the tentatively proposed grouping of the Mobile and Ohio railroad with the Southern railway is alone sug- rested by, and is solely attributable to the fact that the Southern railway owns the Mobile and Ohio railway"
 Among the first major matters taken m when the present members of the stata docks commission were named many months ago related to the pro posed grouping of the railroad system of the country. The commission got into the fight after many headings before the I. 0. C., and finally was permitted to file a brief in support of its oppos1- tion to Mobile and Ohio-SoutheFn rail- way grouping. Grouping of rail lines is authorized by a national law for the nurpose of serving cities and territories more effectively.
 Among Founders
 The brief calls attention to the lines connection with St. Louis, and that seventy years ago the railroad was started and was perfected as Mobile institution-a rail ally of unqualified allegiance to the port of Mobile.
 "Indeed," says the brief, +the state would respectfully urge the commission to so assign this rail line to group mem. Bership as to promote the motive and effect the design it's constructors exc cuted seventy years ago." =
 The brief says further: 'The state of Alabama is advised that the South ern railway has not ,authOritatively avowed a preferences, one way or the other, in respect of this proposed group ing of the Mobile and Ohio railroad. Nc property right of the Southern in that line would be affected by the, grouping of the M. and O. railroad otherwise.
 ''The Mobile and Ohio railroad, itself serves a different area from any served by the major clements of the Southern railway system. The main unit of the Southern railway system, in the Miss issippi valley, is an east and west line not otherwise related to the port of Mo bile, to the territory that, with appro' priate railway combination, is properly in the interest of commerce, tributary to the port of Mobile.
 Tt appears from a record in this proceeding, as well as in the tentative
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