Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-24
WESTERN PACIFIC
AIDED BY DECISION
|. C. c. Ruling on ConshfuC5
ton of 200 Mile Extension
Held Favorable.
BY CHARLES F. sPEARE.

special Dlspatch TO The star.
NEW YORK, June 24.--The future Of
the Western Pacific Railroad, con4I
trolled by Arthur Curtiss James and
sought after by the Van SweringenS91
who have recently gained possession Of
the Missouri Pacific, has been distinctly
improved by the decision of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission permitting
the Western Pacific and the Great
Northern to build 200-mile extension
which will give the James line new
traffic territory in Northern California
and, equally important, its long-coveted
entrance into the San Francisco dis
trict.
The opinion rendered by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission was reach
ed In shorter time than it had taken in
any important application before 1t in
recent years. Briefs were filed about
two months ago, after an extended
hearing in which objections to the pro-
posal of the Western Pacific and the
Great Northern to build 400 miles of
line was made by tie Southern Pacific
and Union Pacific. Earlier In the year
the commission had denied to the
Western Pacific its request to construct
new lines south of San Francisco in the
region already well occupied by its COM
petitors.
Change in situation Seen.
1t was the feeling today in railroad
circles that the right the commission
has granted the Western Pacific to in
wade the territory of the Southern Pa
cific and to link up with the Great
Northern Railway in the proposed new
stem of its system, will stiffen the re-
slstance OF the present controlling in
terests In the Western Pacific to efforts
20 get this property away from them.
~ may also bring about some alignment
that Will give the Chicago, Burlington
d quincy an entrance to the Pacific
Coast, instead of it's being bottled up in
the event that it is separated from the
Great Northern and the Northern Pa
cific
Western Pacific interests have con-
tended for a long while that they
should be permitted to extend the scope
OF their operations to the north and
INTO the San Francisco district in order
10 compete on more equal terms with
the Southern Pacific Their argument
has been that unless they were now per-
united to occupy additional competitive
territory, and especially that around
gan FRANCISCO, there would be prohibi-
lions against further DEVELOPMENT of
the property as an independent system
whose competitive influence is of con-
siderable value to California shippers
Inc proposed new line Of 200 miles
is 10 be built by the Western Pacific
and Great Northern, the one being re-
spon6lble for ITO miles at a cost of
ABOUT SlO,O00,000, and the other for 90
mixes at about S3,356,OO0. The Great
northern is to have the right to on-
crate over the Western Pacific section
on reasonable terms 1t is eXpected
t ttlat construction will begin some time
this Summer
arthur Curtiss James, whose road is
now TO come into stronger competition
than ever with the Southern Pacific is
SAID TO be one Of the largest Individual
nolders OF Southern Pacific stock, This
TACT has made his contest for approval
OF the right to build in the Southern
racine territory of Northern California
OF more than ordinary interest.
Stock Holdings.
Mr.. James is also credited with he
ing one of the largest holders of Great
Noftnern stock as well as of Northern
racine. His interests naturally make
MN favor the Burlington, Jointly owned
oy Great Northern and Northern pa
enc, rather than the Missouri Pacific
as an ally OF the Western Pacific Those
CLOSELY Identified with him il,tinateG =
rev rev weeks ago that If the Interstate
commerce Commission denied fine
western Pacific application to build the
proposed line to Northern California;
mar James might then be wilIino ~
pass MS control of the property over m
the Van SwerinEens. THAT 6oss ne
seem likely todat Sx,Lnt a. ., AoS