The Indianapolis journal., 1886-02-20
Cheap Transcontinental Fares.

CHICAGO, Feb l9.-An the Chicago railroads
having transcontinental connections, are booking
passengers to San Francisco at the following fg-
ures: First-class, unlimited $40 40; first-class
limited, $60. 49, second class emigrant limited
$32 This is reduction Of about $35 on first
class rates. The rates to Portland and to Cal
ifornia via the Northern Pacific remain un-
changed. No reductions have been announced
over that road. A prominent railroad official.
in commenting on the situation this morning,
said the action of the Pacific roads in announc-
ing the sale of unlimited tickets at the reduced
rate meant that the old tariff would probably
never again be imposed, as the present rate al
lowed them nearly three cents mile, which was
an equitable return for so long haul.
To-day the Eastern agent of the Atchson, To-
peka & Santa Fee railroad. at New York, re-
ceived orders to cut the freight tariff rates to
meet those offered by any OF the Western lines.
AS result. the freight rates were to-day re-
duced about 80 per cent The ''Sunset route"
has also cut freight rates, but to what extent is
not generally known. Shippers, at this time of
the year, are not making many consignments, and
the roads, therefore, make liberal terms with
them in order to secure business. 1t is, there
fore. difficult to ascertain at the Offices of the
companies just what rates are made. The off,
cias of the ''Sunset route" are now at work on
new tariff schedule which, it is expected. will be
completed and put into force ca or before Mon
day next
The Atchison, Topeka s. Santa Fe company
assert that the war has been forced upon them
against their wishes, and the first vice president
of the Atchison company to-day. speaking of the
situation. said that the company had given no.
tce of its intention to withdraw from the Trans
continental Association Dec. 4, and gave as rea-
son that the association was not being conducted
upon what they deemed proper business prnci-
pies. The Atchison company had purchased
rar,o.n?f an unfinished railroad in southern
Southern Railroad Company and afterwards
proceeded to construct 100 miles additional from
Cotton the junction with the Southern Pacific
to Barslow, the junction with the Atlantic &
Pacific road, which was completed Nov. /. The
purchase and completion of this road placed the
Atchison company, according to it's claim in
position to handle aud control at least one-half
of the business to and from southern California;
tory. they claimed that they were
entitled to so per cent of the
business It was on this claim that the associa-
tion split at its meeting in New York city. The
Atchison company asked that California be di-
vided into two districts the northern to lie north
of Mojave harbor. and the southern south of that
point. All of the other roads in interest-the
Southern Pacific. Central Pacific, Texas Pacific
Union Pacific, Denver g. Rio Grande. and the
Burlington g. Missouri. in Nebraska-opposed
Atchison deeply regrets the position into
which it has been forced. and fully
realizes the deplorable results which are to be
expected, and which have always heretofore been
obtained, so far as revenue is concerned, from a
warm rates they do not propose to give up the
contest until the question of equity is conceded
to their interest.
None of the leading officials of any of the
other roads directly interested have been in the
city. and their views upon the situation have not
been obtained. The connecting roads out of this
city are passive and do not expect to become
embroiled in the fight beyond reducing through
rates to the extent of the reduction of rates
announced by the warning roads from their ter
minal points.
Tne Baltimore d Ohio road this morning was
the first and only trunk line out of New York
which reduced it's passenger tariff to San Fran
cisco Ia accordance with the recently-adopted
cut of the lines west or the Missouri river. The
fares to San Francisco are as follows: Unlimited