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Show Consolidating Our Railroads Forthcoming railroad consolidations are going to create a lot of sore spots. Many sections of the west are going to find themselves transferred from the status of main-line districts, to branch lines. Many towns now on main lines will lose that distinction. Some cities, where shops will be enlarged, will benefit. Others, where "duplicating . facilities" are eliminated, will lose population. These things are inevitable. But it is human to fight for what we have. Some parts of the west have too much train service; . some have not enough. Seattle, for example, would be just as well off with two transcontinentals as the present four. Portland gets along with two one over the Union Pacific, i the other over the S. P. & S. to Spokane. Los Angeles has i two services in the S. P. and the Santa Fe or the Atchison, ! as they call it back east. San Franciscans have the choice of U. P. or S. P. eastbound. Consolidation of trackage and service is inevitable; the roads must do it, to survive. Ultimately, all the west will benefit; for a time, some towns and some sections will suf- |