Re. Interstate Commerce Commission Hearing on Yosemite Valley Railroad’s Petition for abandonment of the railroad, City Hall, Merced, December 1, 1944.

        The following were a few of the participants:
W. J. Schutrumpf, examiner for Interstate Commerce Commission, who was chairman of the meeting.

        Justus Craemer, representing the State Railroad Commission.

        Norman A. Wood, Engineer, State Railroad Commission.

        Mr. Gregory, attorney for the State Railroad Commission.

        Mr. Ward Hall, Traffic Department, State Railroad Commission.

        Messrs. Hall Wood and Gregory took a trip over the first thirty miles or so in a gasoline car the day before the hearing.

        For the National Lead Company mine near El Portal there were: Attorney Lee, W. L. Heater, Manager of the Western Division, headquarters, Los Angeles, whose testimony was particularly valuable, Mr. Earl L. Murchinson, manager of the mine.

        For the Yosemite Valley Railroad there were: Mr. H. C. Bonsall, Trustee and former President, Attorneys L. E. Tripp and Dewitt M. Manning, General Manager L. A. Foster, former Vice-President and General Manager W. L. White -- all took part.

        For the Yosemite Park and Curry Co.: General Manager H. Oehlmann, observer, Attorney J. F. Hogan of Los Angeles -- a very brief statement for the record indicating their desires, but officially disinterested, and Mr. Dierkson.

        For the Navy, Commander Hughes, observer from the Navel Headquarters at San Francisco as a listener only.

        For the National Park Service, Regional Director O. A. Tomlinson, who presented written statement. Superintendent Kittredge, observer.

        Mr. R. Casas, Manager of the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. at Merced.

        Tom Griffin, former President, Merced Chamber of Commerce.

        Many others from Merced.

        Jasper Rock Company (Mr. Alabrand) representing the company mining jasper at Jasper Point. Normal capacity is approximately 20,000 ton per year.

        Mr. H. E. Owen, Sacramento Division, P. T. & T. Co.

        An interesting feature of the Yosemite Valley Railroad Company’s testimony was as follows:

        Total employees -- approximately 35. Most of them have been with the Company from 10 to 35 years. The brakeman has been with them 35 years and the engineer or locomotive drive about 25 years. There are two locomotive engineers, two trainmen, six in the accounting department, about fifteen section hands, including shop workers, and about five foremen, and two agents.

        W. L. Heater, Manager for the National Lead Co. was particularly well informed. Several points of interest are as follows: They are shipping approximately 2,800 tons per month of the finely ground and sacked barium product. They expect to increase their production in the next months to 4,000 tons per month. They now employ approximately thirty men; are paying 90 cents per hour for muckers, and $1 per hour for miners and mill workers. Their investment in the El Portal plant is approximately $386,000. The 2,800 tons per mo. is equal to approximately 12 cars per week. Without the railroad it would require approximately 280 trucks of 10 ton capacity per month.

        They use approximately 90 truck loads, or 40 car loads of fuel oil per year.

        The National Lead Company paid to the Yosemite Valley Railroad last year approximately $104,390 for transportation

        The Lead Company received approximately $17.50 per ton f.o.b. El Portal Plant. The Lead Company has a plant in Northern California at Emigrant Gap, producing less and poorer quality than the El Portal Plant. They have another plant in Texas.

        The National Lead Company made a very fine showing, particularly through their attorney, indicating that the Yosemite Valley Railroad Company had definitely, if not deliberately, endeavored to let the railroad business run down, so that they could abandon.

        The Commissioners hearing the case were particularly in giving everyone who wanted to be heard a fair chance.

        It was my feeling gained while sitting in conference and in conversation afterwards that although appreciated is given to the losses by several groups concerned, they are also cognizant of the downward trend of shortline railroads, and the fact that in certain instances where there has been great opposition to the abandonment that roads have been built and they have very satisfactorily and economically taken care of the situation.


Frank A. Kittredge,
Superintendent.