The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-02-11
Cheap Railroad Fare.


The JanseYille Gazette believes the Rail
roads should reduce their passenger rate
of fare and not wait for the interference
of legislationin the matter. The Gazette
maintains that the profit of the roads
would be largely increased by making a
proper reduction. That paper says
at is strange that the railroad mana
gers do not see this especially in regard
to the transportation of passengers. With
general keen perception of what pro-
notes their interests, they are singularly
blind in this respect. The reduction of
fares would increase travel just as cheap
hostage multiplied letters. We remember
when twenty-five cents was charged upon
letter and it was not until it was dem
onstrated in England that penny postage
would pay, that we had the courage to try
it in this country, and then there was only
a partial education at first, because it was
said, this is a new country with long post
routes. But cheapness at last prevailed
and we have uniform rates now, over i'm
mensely long routes, that are quite salts
factory, and which pay better than high
ones.
IF the Northwestern railway would Is
sue tickets for 81, 90 for the trip from
Evansville to Chicago it would pay better
than their present charge OF $3.50, simply
because of the increase of travel, that
would Immediately take place. Railways
have not the monopolyin carrying passen-
gers as they have in freights. People
are obliged to send their produce to market;
but few of them are compelled to travel.
Most of them remain at home, and do not
indulge in travelling because it is so ex
pensive but, if it were cheap persons
would frequently take trips for business
pleasure or social intercourse, who now,
do not go upon railway once a year.
The argument for cheap postage was
that letters could be carried as cheaply as
any first class freight, and that it was
nonsense to charge twenty-five cents for
carving half an ounce, because it was In
the shape ofletter, when the freight would
not exceed one cent on the longest post
road in the country. So it proved by trial
and the same principle will prove in
railway fares.
A freight car, canb be had on the North
western railway at from $55 to $40 from
Janseville to Chicago If they make a
satisfactory profit on that then certainly
seventy five dollars ought topay them well
for taking passenger car to Chicago /;
and that is about what they would get at
dollar for each passenger-if the car is
| filled every time Would it be filled to
it's capacity always? That is the question,
and that was the question in the cheap
postage reform. The predictions OF the re-
formers were more than verified in that
case as they would be in regard to rail
way fares at this time.
We are not wholly without experience
in this matter since the English railways
have, without intending it,partially tried
the experiment Of reduced railway fares.
They have three classes Of passenger cars
in that country, intended to accommodate
different classes of people. In the stat
istics for the year 1868, just published,
it is found that third class travelling has
increased enormously, while the first
| barely held its own, and the second fell
off It is therefore proven that the peo-
pie ofaIl classes are rapidly settling
down to the cheapest service in that coun-
try So it would be here but why wait
when it is plain that multitude of cheap
fares or f"eights is better than few at
high prices? Do not the city horse cars
and ferries prove this thing? Do not
your short lines about the cities demon
strate it? Is it not palpable in all kinds
of business that cheapness induces con-
sumption, and are railways to be the sole
exception? Messrs. Directors. think of
it. Reduce your rates, and thus, while
you promote your own interests you dis
pose of the vexatious contest in the leg
islatures about tariffs, and instead of the
antagonism of the people you secure their
friendship and support.
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