Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-28
THE ALTON GOES 1T ALONE
And Inaugurates a War on Its
Competitors.
FIRST MOVE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
1t Declares Its Independence of Any
Association and Proceeds to
slash the Denver Pas
sengcr Rate,
Getting Even.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, June 81 Special Telegram
TuE BEE, The Alton has cntercd upon u
campaign by which it proposes TO even q
long account with its competitors. IL claims
not TO DC bound by any association rules, and
will give notice of changes in rates only to
the inters state commerce commission. The
beginning of this plan of campaign was in
augurated by the notice of reduction of tho
Denver passenger rate from S30.65 to 500.
General Passenger Agent Charlton sent no.
ticc of the reduction, which goes into effect
July 2 TO Washington, but no notice was
give its competitors, or the Western States
Passe ger association.
The Rock Island claims this action is q
lack OF good faith on the part of the Alton,
and that there was u distinct promise on the
part of the Alton that it would notify its
fellow members of the Western States Pass
enger association, should it decide to make
any change i'll rates. The Atoms ground
for the reduction in rates, Is that the Rock
Island allowed its descriptive round-trip
tickets TO Denver to be so manipulated that
passeng ers could make the trip either way
for s26. This, they claim, was done in the
following way:
A Chicago scaper would buy round-trip
ticket for $50, the one way rate being S3065.
This ticket he would sell to n Deliver pass
engcr for $50, with an order on Denver
scaiper tor $50, or as much less rs he could
get the customer TO accept. The Denver
scalper then sold the return passage Cor S25,
or as much more us he could get. The ticket
is of the descriptive character: in
fact, everything but photograph
of the purchaser. The Alton claims that
lacy rode on one of these tickets describing
a man with blonde side whiskers. 1t is al
legged that this took place on Rock Island
train, the only comment of the conductor be-
ing query as to what she had done with her
burnsides.
The Alton further claims that there are
now 600 OF these unused portions of tickets in
the Denver market, 400 of them being of the
Rock Island. TO this charget the Rock Island
makes answer in Il circular, declaring there
are but fifty-four outstanding round trip
Denver tickets of this issue, and it is reason
able to suppose that at least nine or ten of
these are in the hands of legitimate purchas-
ers. The Alton people declare that the cir
cular il pure buncombe. The Alton is by no
means satisfied with this reduction
in passenger rates, which will ex-
tend to all intermediate points. 1t
is now attacking the Rocl, Island in tender
Of the Missouri are to be believed. The word
comes that the Rock Island, refusing to
break cargoes at the Missouri river, tho
Alton is Offering stockmen to take cattle to
Chicago from any point on the Rock Island
system west of the river to Chicago at regu-
lar rates. This it can do by paying local
rates to the Rock Island to Kansas City and
thence to Chicago over its own line.
This will not cut the through rate.
but the transfer will net the Alton much
less than it would the Rock Island.
With several other interchanges of social
amenities, the situation stands as above 1t
may materially change however, within
twenty four hours. The Union Pacific has
already become tired Of the Sl4 second class
rate to Helena, via Denver, and will soon re-
quest Its withdrawal To meet the Northern
Pacific and Manitoba competition, it will con-
tnue the rates on its mail,