Salt Lake Telegram | 1939-08-30 | Page 12 | Fight Pressed on Air Merger

FIGHT PRESSED ON AIR MERGER Opposition to the proposed Western Western West West- em ern Air Express and United Air AirLines AirLines AirLines AirLines' Lines Lines' merger was stated Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednes Wednes- day In a letter mailed by eight minority stockholders of the W. W A. A c E. E to 1600 cosh are holders I In th the iett letter th the gro group p said the United Air Lines proposed to purchase purchase purchase pur pur- chase 55 per cent of the Western Air stock from six majority shareholders shareholders shareholders share share- holders and force transfer of one share of Western Air stock for third one-third share of United stock The group is composed of R. R L. L Fry of Pocatello Idaho Stephen StephenA A A. A of Great Falls Mont A. A T. T Hibbard and Fred B. B Sheriff of Helena Mont E. E B. B Craney of ot Butte Mont Ralph of Pasadena and Robert A A. A Rowland and John H H. Garland of Los An An- geles Reasons given for their opposition opposition tion Hon were that Western Air is not suitable for tor operation by a single transcontinental line because part of the route is of a competitive nature with United that Western Air expects to become a n transcontinental transcontinental transcontinental route as soon as the civil aeronautics authority approves extension extension extension ex ex- ex- ex tension of the line to Lethbridge Canada and that United Air Lines per mile cost during 1938 was 70 cents as compared to the Western Air Express cost of 53 cents A hearing by the C CAA A A has been set for December 4 at Washington D. D C. C CM at which time the group hopes hope to have organized the minority minority minority minor minor- ity into an opposition bloc the letter stated