Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-12-24
Reduction in Railroad Fare.

htuitftf'n Ill ndllIbdu
Passenger Agent oi the Northern Pa
citc Railroad, authorizes III To- an
nuuncc that commencing january LIST i,
the local rates of fare in Montana
ldah" and Washington Territory, on
all It's main line and branches, will he
reduced to IA uniform basis of five
cents per mile. The management
consider that in the interests of the
people along the line and in view of
the increased earnings and develop
mcnt Of local travel. they can consi>-
tently make the reduction to IA five
cent basis. The reduction is on an
average about % per cent. in Wash
lngton and 30 per cent. i'll Idaho and
Montana. 1t will not be so apparent
between some points as others The
reduction on tickets between Olympia
and Portland will be merely nominal,
about 30 cents, but between many of
the way stations it will amount to
much more than the average For in
stance the fare between Tcnino and
Chehalis, now 81 %, will he but -
cents, and from the former station to
Seatco, now 40 cents, it will be reduced
one-half, or 90 cents.
Many Of our readers will be sur
prised when informed that the rates
over the Northern Pacific are now
much less than those over the princi-
pal routes in the dcnsely populated
business centers. Mr.. Samuel G.
Ward, the local n. p agent has kindly
given us some figures for comparison.
Take for illustration the rate on the
route between Tacoma and st. Paul.
The distance is 2,O57 miles. The emf
grant rate of $37 allows only II cents
per mile, and the tirst-class rate about
q cents. The distance from st. Paul
to Chicago is 419 miles and the second
class or emigrant rate 50, or l-5
cents per mile, and the first-class $14,
or 81 cents. From Chicago to New
York the distance is 400 miles and
the secOnd-class or emigrant rate $26,
or g. cents per mile, and iirst-class
S3S, or 2 81 cents. 1t is only the
great distance which has made the
transcontincntal rates seem high, even
at the former figures, and there is
scarcely an Eastern route that does
not charge more than the Northern on
long tickets, and nearly as much be-
tween stations.
Truly We live in an age of progress.
1t may be slow when compared with
that OF some other western districts,
but still it is decided progress, as the
transition from the prairie schooner Of
few years ago to the palatial cars of
the present, from three days of hard
travel in dead-ex" wagons to pleas
ant jaunt of few hours supplied with
all modern conveniences and comforts,
from a cost of $15 to less than one
third that amount, amply shows
Still there are some persons who persist
in the belief that railroads are an I'M
mitigated evil. The logic of events is
unheeded by such people. They seem
oblivious of the fact that the compile
ton of the Cascade Division will bring
the resources of the wheat area of
Eastern Washington into full play;
ignorant of the causes which have led
to the rapid development of the
whole Territory, until we are now able
to knock at the door of Statehood
with confidence that the application
will be heard; careless of the fact that
the eyes of the civilized world are di-
rected to the northwest border as the
great Land of Promise, and unmind-
full of the duty we all owe to sustain
every legitimate aid to civilization and
progress.
Let us hope that this prejudice will
disappear in the warm sunlight of
knowledge and reason, as the mists
before the genial rays of the morning
sun. Corporations have their sphere of
usefulness. They make gigantic enter
prises possible by the aggregation of
capital. They may become grasping
and oppressive, when under vicious
control, but in this respect they only
reflect the imperfection of human
nature. They have just as much
reason to desire harmony, peace, good
will, and the general prosperity of the
people, as each individual citizen, and
when We find a company making vol
untary concessions, adopting Compel
alive rates, and paving the way for in
creased growth and renewed industry,
the same gauge of merit should be
applied as to individul effort that re-
suits in general benefit.
After the GOvernOrship.
The Tacoma Ledger states that a