By July 1909, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul had changed its name to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific to better reflect the accomplishment of creating the shortest transcontinental route of any railroad between the Pacific coast and the Great Lakes. Upon arriving in Tacoma the veil of secrecy was lifted and the benefactor openly assumed control of the local railroad. Even though the Tacoma Eastern now had its headquarters in Chicago, it operated as an independent subsidiary of the parent road for nearly ten years.