The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1927-08-17

The Minneapolis & St. Louis rail-
road Thursday filed with the inter-
state commerce commission a formal
petition, asking leave to intervene in
opposition to the proposed consolida-
ton of the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific railways, at the pro-
ceedings which will begin with
hearing at the Nicollet hotel in Min
neapolis in October. The petition is
signed by William H. Bremen, receiv-
er of the road.
The action of the Minneapolis &
st. Louis follows closely the filing of
a similar petition by the Milwaukee
railway, which presented its plea to
the commission Wednesday. The Min
neapolis road announces that it's OPP
position to the merger of the two
northern roads as the Great Northern
Pacific is based on the belief
that its earnings and its prospects
for future financial improvement will
be damaged by the consolidation. The
brief also contends that the unifica-
ton plan is contrary to the spirit and
the letter of the federal laws govern
ing railway consultations. The stat
utes, it is pointed out, seek to streng-
then the entire railway structure by
linking weak roads with stronger sys-
TENS.
In announcing it's move to inter-
vene to prevent the proposed merger,
H. E. Byram, president of the Mil
waukee, said that the public interest
generally, as well as the interest of
his road, will be 'prejudicially affect
ed" if the application of the Hill lines
TO merge is approved by the commits
sion.
The petition claims that such a
merger would, in reality" effect a
coalition of four railroads Great
Northern, Northern Pacific, Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy, and the Spo-
kane, Portland & Seattle. Both the
Burlington and Spokane & Seattle
are jointly owned and controlled by
the Great Northern and Northern Pa
cific, the petition states.
$50 powerful combination of rail-
roads would seriously impair railroad
competition in the northwest" said
Mr.. Byram. "Once formed, it could
never be dissolved. We believe the
creation of so huge transportation
monopoly would be vitality prejudi-
cial to the interests of the Milwaukee
road, and to the northwest generally.
1.-The public Of the northwestern
states, once it is informed, will not
sanction a railroad consolidation that
is opposed to it's interests"
My Byram said the merger would:
"Create and maintain unbalanced
competition contrary to the laws gov
erning transportation; preclude or
prejudice further necessary unifica-
ton, and directly oppose the consoi-
idation plan officially PROPOSED by
the interstate commerce commission
to develop fair and impartial railroad
consultations"
President Byram said the Milkau-
kee railroad would soon emerge from
its receivership as reorganized
railroad, physically and financially IN
a position to develop it's territory and
compete with present competitors #
they are not unified. The road could
also compete with them if they are
unified on any basis that preserves
fairly balanced competitive condition,
he added.
The petition against the merger
asks that the petitioners be granted
the right to appear at the taking of
testimony to present oral argument
against the consolidation. 1t is un-
derstood the first hearing will be held