Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-06-06
The Return Ticket System On the
Grand Trunk.

UfUUU lTUNhs
A petition signed by the leading men
of our village. was forwarded to the
Managing Director of the Grand Trunk
Railroad, at Montreal, requesting that the
return ticket system be restored on The
ground OF public convenience, and ex-
pressing the opinion that il would be Ton
the pecuniary interest oi the Company
so To do Mr. Bridges replies that it can
not he done, giving as II reason the ac-
ton OF our Legislature, which made IL
imperative that any tickets issued were
to be good for period of six years. He
furthermore says that his company has
been more liberal in the matter Of return
tickets than other railroad companies in
the State, and that their fares arc consid'
erably below the standard they are au.
thorized to charge. Many people hold that
the Legislation referred 10 does not apply
To such tickets rs have been issued by the
Grand Trunk. viz; tickets sold at reduc-
cd rates, but only to such tickets rs are
bought at full rates. and marked "Good
for this day only There is an obvious
distinction between the two classes OF
tickets. In the one case, there is q good
consideration, that, Tor the reduction OF
the rate of two fares, the holder Of the
ticket is bound to comply with its
terms. viz to use It on the day issued or
day after and il not so used to lose it
The risk taken is by the buyer OF the
ticket. But il is evident, from the course
of the Railroad Company further down
the line, that the reason given, viz; leg.
islalive action, is mcIe preteXt. Where
the road has competition. rs il has at
Yarmouth, the return ticket system has
been restored. SO will it be for us when
the Maine Central gets its road running
into Portland from Danville Junction
There will then be IN opportunity to buy
tickets to the Junction, and then on the
Maine Central, and from the feeling Of
the travelling community towards the
Grand Trunk, most of tho travel would
gothat way at the same rates, but from the
well known enterprise and accommoda-
ton of the managers of the Maine Cen.
trail road, the public can rely upon some
plan of reduced fares on L.
The question between the public and
the road is not as to the return ticket sys'
TEN; it is one OF reduced rates in con-
sideration of frequent trips; there are
other ways of accomplishing it, besides
the return ticket; il may be done rs some
Of the Maine roads do, by selling tickets
good Tor number of hundred miles
travel on the road. which are sold ut about
two-thirds rates. The ticket has figures
on it, which the Conductors punch, rs
the ticket is used, till the whole ticket is
consumed; or packages OF ten. or twenty
tickets could be sold. as on most of the
Boston and New England roads, at re-
duced rates.
The other statement of Mr.. Bridges
that this company has been more liberal
than o.hcr companies in the State, IN the
return ticket system. and that their fares
are lower than they are authorized to
charge, is no: true. On some portions
of their route. the fares are seven cents 4
mile. Where there are competing lines
they are probably down to correspond.
inc figure with other roads: but It is n
source OF general complaint by the bust
ness and travelling public that the Grand
Trunk officials. where they have mo
nopoly. rs they have thro' most OF our
State, are entirely oblivious TO the nc
commodalion ur wishes OF their patrons,
and regardless OF public safety to lite
and limb by allowing their road to be ont
of repair 50 much. The road is Il big in
ierest and it is managed by foreign OF
ficias with big salaries. which eat up the
profits OF the road.
There is one way nov the travelling
public above Yai mouth can save some
thing over the iull fare rates. TO wit: to
buy a ticket to Yarmouth, then get re-
turn ticket, which is 60 cents, and then
buy another from Yarmouth. Or Il per-
son from Portland ran buy Il return ticket
to Yarmouth, then get one TO the place
where he is bound. and on his return buy
only To- Yarmouth For instance, the full
fare TO Portland from South Paris is 1876,
or $50 down and back. To Yarmouth
Junction it is 40 return ticket in to
Portland is 65, and the fare back. Las,
makes 3.55-a saving OF hrty.fre cents
and this proportion holds good all along
the route Many Yankee will avail
himself OF this; but if there was com
peiing line of road, they wouldn't pat
ronize line at all. or more than they arc
absolutely obliged 10, which SD totally
disregards The public interests.
Memorial Dag