Show RAilWAY MfR MERGER R PlAN At G. G N. N and N. N P. P Would Lease Line to Operating Co Approval Is Sought NEW YORK Jan 19 Ar- Ar Plans for merging the Great North North- Pacific railways an anif their subsidiaries int into the worlds world's greatest transportation system tern tem have been announced The plan subject to approval by bythe bytho the tho interstate commerce commission commis- commis sion cans calls for leasIng the maIn lines Jines to an operating company which als also will in operate the Spokane Portland and Seattle raIlroad The Chicago Burlington and Quincy now con con- trailed by tho Northern companies through equal ownership of 97 per percent percent cent of the stock will continue as asa asa a separate entity A joint statement by Ralph Budd president of the Great Northern and Charles Donnelly president of the Northern PacifIc says single control of the Burlington wm will be favorable to more decisive handling of its development policies Steps that are now being studied studied stu- stu died said the statement will wm further further fur fur- ther to a still greater degree a communIty of interest which has long existed between the two Northern companIes and which began began be- be gan when they jointly acquired control control con con- ot of the Burlington over twenty twenty- five years ago and was enlarged when they built and acquired the Sp SpOkane kane Portland and Seattle tern tem The vo t Northern companIes being thus permanently allied as to mileage of more than miles mUes very naturally seek seele to strengthen and extend that community ot of interest interest in- in terest and to make It more beneficial benefi- benefi cial to their stockholders and more serviceable to the public PROPOSAL STUDIED The statement referred to a proposal pro pro- made by the interstate commerce com coin merce commission as a basis for discussion for tor separating the Great North Northern rn from the Northern Pacific and groupIng the Great Northern with the ChIcago l and St. St Paul On the other hand the statement statement state state- ment continued the interstate commerce commIssIon has sane Banc extensive by bystock bystock stock control and lease It is thiS thiS' sort ot of a unification which is now receiving s study udy by the two N em ern companIes The statement adds that when definite conclusions have been reached the Northern companies explain the I situation to th governors and state commissions of the states states states' through which tWo thc Northern 11 lines o operate te |