Show GROUPING PLAN IS OPPOSED BY mm SMALLER LINES LIES Interstate Commerce Com Corn Commission Commission mission Hears Arguments Arguments ments meats Against Proposed Consolidation Small roads of the tha West are oppose to the proposed consolidation consolidation consolida consolida- tion railroads of ot the country country country coun- coun coun coun- try Into a few rew main groups so sov faras far tar faras taras as their their- own destinies are concerned concerned con con- on cern ed according to testimony I given before Commissioner Henry t tI I C. C Hall of or the tho interstate commerce commerce com corn merce commission at the opening of th the rail group hearing here today None of the major roads was heard eard during the forenoon session Many Many of those appearing for for- forthe the smaller roads did not take the stand but confined their appearance appearance appearance ap ap- ap- ap to presentation of written reports on the attitude of their respective roads It Is expected to conclude the hearing today and It Is possible that the attitude of the big railroad railroad railroad rail rail- railI I road systems ms traversing this section sec eec tion will not be adduced at the hearing as these roads have already already already al al- al- al ready filed their cases with the commission in Washington The Tha short lines of ot the state as Indicated Indicated Indi lad by those testifying during the early ho hours rs of ot the h hearing aring generally want to retain their in individuality individuality individuality in- in and work out their own problems H. H W. W manager of the traffic s service bureau will present the attitude of the people of Salt Lake generally generally generally gen gen- through the chamber of or commerce WANTS INDEPENDENCE G. G S. S Anderson vice president of or the Utah Railway company was positive in his assertions that his road must remain Inn dependent if it is to give the best service to the section It serves This road known as the Utah Coal Route runs from Provo into the Carbon county coal fields Mr Anderson declared that his road preferred working out its own problems and solving its own difficulties to domination through grouping by hy some large system He said however that if eventually ally AlIv th the E plan alan was carried out i his i ro road road w would u d prefer groupIng groupIng grouping group- group Ing with the Union Pacific system rather than with any other The Utah railway is a coal feeder forthe f for forthe r the Union Pacific and because of this connection it was pointed out that that system would have haye better better better bet bet- ter reason for tor fo Ing the Utah railway than would any other possible group W. W D. D Forster vice president of ot th the Tonopah Goldfield railroad likewise expressed opposition to any group arrangement for fr his line If such a grouping was effected ef effected ef- ef then witness said his road would prefer preter consolidation with the theu Southern u r Pacific i system te OPPOSE Other rail executives to take the stand were J. J B. B Whitehill of ot the Tooele Valley railroad and G. G L. L Hickey of the Nevada Northern railway Both of ot these expressed I similar views in opposition to grouping so far as as' as the short lines are concerned From the statements statements statements state state- ments made It appears that the small roads generally are ot of the opinion that by independent operation operation operation opera opera- tion they have a better opportunity lAr and growth crowth than I th they y w would u have have in becoming a fragment of ot some imm immense nse rail system Likewise where a preference preference reference ref ref- has been expressed in the event the grouping program is carried out the small roads have signified that system which has most fostered them as Independent entities Of the roads who filed l reports I with Commissioner very I I I little is K known own of their attitude although it is generally understood I to o be similar to that expressed from the stand by executives of I lines similarly situated Those I filing at the forenoon session wore were the Caldwell Traction company I UInta railroad and the BIngham I Garfield railroad I II M. M Hartman general manager of ot the St. St John Ophir railroad was on the stand at the forenoons forenoon's close outlined objections objections' to the grouping of small lines with the big systems I I |