Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-24
Special Dispatch to The star.


ST. LOUIS, Mo-, December "a
Following are comments Of railroad
presidents in st. Louis regarding the /.
c. C. constellation:
]. M. Kurn, president of the Frisco:
The Frisco has for some time looked
with favor upon consolidation with
the Rock Island. We have acquired
considerable Rock Island stock and be-
lieve such a consolidation is most
logical step. The two roads are not
competing lines and, taken together,
would create system Of $4,000 miles,
serving the Southeast, the Middle West,
the Southwest and the North Central
part of the country. The only compe-
tition which exists Is in Kansas and
Oklahoma and this is so Insignificant
that it doesn't amount to anything.
believe the two roads would be in a
much better position to serve their ter
ritories If they were consolidated along
the lines suggested by the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
Columbus Halle, president of the
Missouri Kansas Texas Lines: The
commission has assigned the Katy TO
the Burlington system. We had never
considered or contemplated such con-
solidation as that, and am unprepared
to say at this time just how the stock
holders would look upon it. The only
consolidation plans in which the Katy
has been involved was the proposed
merger with the Kansas City Southern
and st. Louis Southwestern. This was
later withdrawn and the plans fell
through. Before expressing any opinion
on an alignment with the Burlington
we must take into consideration the new
conditions which would surround us
and to which we would be compelled to
adjust ourselves.
Comment Is Reserved.
Daniel Upthegrove, president of the
st. Louis Southwestern: IT have no
comment to make until have read the
full decision. and studied its various
angles
j. E. Tussig, president of the Wabash.
made public telegram he received
from William H. Williams of New York,
chairman Of the board Of the Wabash
The telegram stated in part:
The creation of more than four rail-
way systems in the Eastern territory is
IN the public interest. In our opinion
consolidation should be effected in such
manner as to create new routes. new
gateways and a gre ter degree of
healthy competition. The commission
has taken a constructive view of the
problem. The proposed Wabash system
will extend from the Atlantic seabcard
to the Missouri River and 1t will serve
some of the largest terminal areas in
the United States, including New York,
Newark. Baltimore, Norfolk, Buffalo
Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pitts
burgh, Detroit, Toledo, Milwaukee, St
Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines and
Omaha. 1t is strategically located. It
gives New England an additional route
to the West as compared with the So
called four-party plan. It makes posi-
Die substantial improvement in trans
portation service by Offering a new COM
petitive route from Toledo, Cleveland
and Pittsburgh to New York; an interior
route for Norfolk & Western coal to
New England by passing New York
and Philadelphia; it paves the way for
new single-line route from the East
to Milwaukee; it provides for the first
time one-line route from the Norfolk
& Western territory to the Great
Lakes; 1t gives Baltimore a third trunk
line and offers the possibility of through
passenger service from New York to
Kansas City"
In Public Interest.
William H. Williams, chairman of the
board and of the executive committee
OF the Wabash Railway, issued the fol-
lowing statement:
The creation of more than four rail-
way systems in Eastern territory Is in
the public interest.
The transportation act provides for
competitive routes and for a more ade-
quate transportation plant for the
country. We have looked upon CONSOLE
dalton as something more than a mere
ALLEGATION OF existing tracks to existing
railroad corporations. In our opinion
consolidation should be effected in such
manner as to create new routes, new
gateways and a greater degree of
healthy competition. The commission
has taken a constructive view Of the
problem.
The proposed Wabash system will
extend from the. Atlantic seaboard to
the Missouri River, and it will serve
some of the largest terminal areas in
the United States, including New York,
Newark, Baltimore, Norfolk, Buffalo,
Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pitts
burgh, Detroit. Toledo. Milwaukee, St.
Louis. Kansas City, Des Moines and
Omaha. 1t is strategically located.
1T connects the large industrial dis
trictS with important coal fields, the
Atlantic seaboard and the important
gateways to the West; it connects the
iron and steel and the rubber producing
territories with the automobile manu-
featuring centers: it reaches the North
west through Chicago and the car ferry
routes across Lake Michigan will serve
| the West and Southwest through the
important gateways of st. Louis, Kansas
City, Hannibal and Peoria, while the
primary grain markets of Chicago,
Kansas City and Des Moines will secure
one-line route to the Atlantic sea-
board and North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Florida and Alabama will
| have a one-line route to New York,
Pittsburgh. Cleveland. Detroit and other
important markets for Southern prod
| uctS.
Additional Route to West.
"It gives New England an additional
route to the West as compared with the