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Show uu- DEFENDS DECISION TO ABANDON BENCH WASHINGTON Sept 2 In a statement state-ment authorising the Southern Pacific Pa-cific to abandon un eight-mile branch line railroad from Tulasco to Metropolis, Me-tropolis, in Elko count) Nevada, the interstate commerce commission sny.v "In our opinion, the Southern Pacific Pa-cific company should not be requirod to continue Indefinitely the operation of a branch line which will not pay the cost of operation, mulnti nam e and tuxes, on the theory that Its system :i a whole Is operated at a profit." The ator of 'he branch line Is the storv of an irrigation boom that fail ed, or nearly so, and the salient facts are related In tho opinion of the commission. com-mission. Dack in 1910 the Pacific Reclamation company set out to build a project in the Metropolis district to Irrigate more than 68,000 acres of land. Through abandonment of lands and contractu, the project was reduced to 4000 acres. But on the promise that the project won M through, the Central PActflc built this branch railroad rail-road in 1911 ar 8 cost of $117,780 and leased it continually ever since to the Southern Pacific |