Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-12-24
RniIrnnh Enrea.

The Central Vermont railroad has made
a move in the right direction in its reduc-
ton Of passenger fares as elsewhere an
nounced in this issue The regular passen
ger tariff remains the same, but the reduc
ton takes the shape Of reduced rate ON
return tickets between stations, making the
rate for round trips about three cents per
mile, while mileage tickets are sold at the
rate of about two cents per mile. These
are rates Of travel with which no reasona-
BILE fault can be found so far as they go, and
we are sorry that they seem to be confined
to the main lines of the company's roads
and not to apply to leased lines, so that
Brattleboro and nearby towns get no direct
benefit From them.
When we consider that local fares from
Brattleboro in every direction are fixed at
the rate of four cents or over per mile, it
seems strange to learn from the last report
of the Massachusetts, railroad commissioners
that the average rate of fares on the roads
in that state is less than two cents mile
The average rate on the Connecticut River
road is one of the highest in the state-2.4
cents per mile. The average rate on the
Providence & Worcester is 2.0S cents, on
the Boston & Lowell J. o. cents on the Bos-
ton 4 Albany I "a cents on the Fitchburg
I SO cents, on the Old Colony 1 20 cents, and
so on-the Old Colony rates being the lowest
in the list 1t would be interesting to know
whether the rates of travel in Vermont do
not rank with the highest which the people
of any eastern state have to pay. In any
case il seems to MS that the time has come
when the people and newspapers ought to
begin to discuss the subject in an intelligent
way. and when a move may properly be
made to secure a reduction of rates to cor
respond with those which our Massachusetts
and New York neighbors nav.
The answer will be. we know, that there
are not so many people to ride in Vermont
as in Massachusetts and New York. Thi.
point we coincide. and we recognize the
fact that the rates in thinly settled district,
must necessarily be higher than in thost
which furnish people enough TO crowd every
train But conversely it is equally true thai
low rates encourage travel. and when tn,
VANTAGE is all ON the side of the railroads
for when a rood local passenger traffic il
once acouired il is the Rrmest and sures
of all sources of income. The New Yorl
elevated roads never made so much money
rs since they reduced their fares to uni
form rate of five cents the day through.
We do NOT exnect the Vermont railroad
to carry passenyers Mt as low a rate as d,
those which RIM in and ont of Boston will
fifty or n hundred trains a dav hacked t.
suffocation. lint if is an omen question witt
the arguments all on one side as to whethe
a uniform tariff rate Ia all noints in Yer
mont of saw three cents per mile would no
81 stimulate travel rs to bring more none
TO the cornanies than those rates which nov
nrevail If n train is to be run it NAV a
well carry IA hundred passengers as fifty. am
the cost will be no more.
We think it must be said of the Contra
Vermont company that its policy towar
the public has been more generous in tn
matter of railroad fares than that of al
most any other in the state. and we are gla
to see one more evidence of the same spirit
As to fares out of Brattleboro. for in
stance. the rate to Millers Falls. u mile.
over a Central Vermont leased line. is onl
- cents, while to Greenfield, n miles, owe
the Connecticut River road. it is 80 cent.
and to Bellows Falls. ~ miles, on the Ven
mont Valley road, it is IL. The Vale
fares, indeed, seem to be the highest {