The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-02-24
BURLINGTON & NORTHERN.
Reasons Given by an official for
Withdrawing from the Western
States Passenger Association.

General Passenger Agent Kenyon. OF tho
Chicago. Burlington IL Northern, sat ns
quietly in his office ns though he were per.
fectly unconscious Of the fact that his road
was in the midst OF great tempest. To the
usual inquiry, ANY news:'" lie answered.:
"ies; IL little"
"What is it,"
"Well, in the first place, you arc aware
of the TACT that the Burlington will, on tho
9th OF tho month, withdraw from tho
Western States Passenger Associations;
but you may not know the reasons that
led us to take this step. We do it, not
for the purpose OF cutting rates. but sim.
ply to put ourselves in a position to meet
any competition that may arise"
will you please indicate the nature OF
this competition, and why you cannot
meet it as well while member OF the asso.
citation as when out OF it?'
Certainly. AS long as we remain in an
association OF this kind we will enleavor
to live up to it's requirements. We want
our share OF business, but We want to oh.
tain it In n perfectly legitimate and bust.
ness-like manner. Now there are six lines
OF road between Minneapolis and st. Paul
and Chicago. Three OF these are first class
roads; the fourth needs considerable
work before it can be placed in this
class; the fifth has never made good time
muchlonger route that it can hardly be
called a competitor. And yet this last
road. be it said to it's credit, has moro
nearly lived up to the spirit and letter OF
it's agreement than the others, and has
been very clean in all it's dealings with the
association
''But all these roads want business, and
some OF them resort to very quest ionable
methods in order to secure it. Our great.
<,,k L.. A,nl.,
II the restrictions placed around their is.
sue and use were only faithfully adhered
to, there would be no trouble. But when
John Smith can ride on Tom ,1ones's tick.
ct. and conductors pay no attention to
signatures, the way was open for all kinds
OF trouble. Now, there il one road which
has n scnlper's office right under its rcgl.
lar ticket office. (Anl may say that it is
because the greater part OF these ticketsar
in the hands of scalpers that the trouble
arises.) Ii you want II 1000 ticket,
you are told to wait n minute, and II boy
is sent down into the scalper's office to get
one. We ito not sell our tickets in that
way-in fact, do not countennnce scalpcrs
in any way. Hence we ure at IL decided
disadvantage.
"Thc Burlington has no local interest at
stake. The country through which we run
is sparsely settled by class OF people who
10 not travel nuCh ana VINO DO Nttle or
no shipping; SO our through business is
what We must guard and foster. During tho
past year our traffic between Minneapo.
lis and Chicago has been l6avy, and we are
gratified. But we must preserve it. When
We entered 4 lie association We thought it
would lie n protection, and we were tho
first line to enter such an association with
ont first kicking up II muss. But no soon
er had we done SO than wo found our rivals
resorting to all manner OF devices to cut our
throats. One sold tickets througha scalp.
er in it's own office at reduced rates while
another one charged tariff figures, but aft.
or long lapse OF time refunded part Of the
money. So we concluded to get out OF it,
and place ourselves in an independent pc.
sition."
What do you propose to do now? Will
you commence cutting rates at once?"
Not by any means. Rate wars do not
pay. When only two lines are in compe-
tition it may do, but where six roads
are concerned it is simply suicidal. We
will make good rates, but We will not al
low our rivals tnset away withus. We will
be in n position to name our own figures,
no matter what the others may do. Our
intention is not to cut rates, as said be.
fore, but to meet the rates. low as they
may be, that are made by our competitors,
no matter whether it is done by under.
handed devices or not. We will begovern.
ed by circumstances. More OF this ! can.
not say until after the 9th OF February.