Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-10
Letter From a Southern Pa
cific Official.
VIEWS OF MANAGER A. N. TOwNE
The Reason Why Passenger Rates
Are Not Reduced-S0me Inter-
esting Figures.

railroads were not assisting in the de-
velopment of this section by reducing
fares. The committee was instructed to
confer with the authorities of the South
ern Pacific ana Santa Fe roads, and OBJ
tain from them some sort of statement
in the matter. The following letter was
. short time ago received from A. N.
Towne, the Third Vice-President and
General Manager of the Southern Pacific,
in which be sets forth the reasons why
that road cannot make any reduction in
rates at the present time. The letter is
interesting as giving the railway side OF
the question:
SAN FRANCISCO. November 80, 1889.
GENTLEMEN-At last, just on the eve OF
my departure for the East, the much
honorable body has been found, and
sideration of this important subject,
which am glad you wrote me about,
that might have an opportunity of set
stwar times" spoken of in your cores
California began before the rate war and
received its start from the large amount
Of advertising done by this company in
Europe and throughout the East, and by
the personal work Of the agents employed
by US there.
It was given an impetus by the low
party excursion rates established by the
Transcontinenta Association, which were
al H. L.
several transcontinental lines. This was
supplemented by the excursions Of
Messrs. Raymond & Whitcomb, Thomas
COOK & Son, E. M. Jenkins and others.
The people who came in these first ex-
eursions were so well pleased that, re-
turning, they became advertising medi-
ans and missionaries for California.
Another influence which told for the
benefit Of this State was the revulsion of
feeling towards Florida, owing to the
yellow fever, bad frosts and failure Of
orange crop, all of which turned tourists
accustomed to wintering in the South, in
large numbers in this direction.
In 1885 rates from Missouri river
points to San Francisco, Los Angeles
and other California points were: First
class unlimited, $95; frst-class limited,
$9165; second-class, $75; third.class,
$45; round trip, party rate, 500.
February Is, 1856, the Southern Pa
ci6c Company reduced the rates to !:
First-class unlimited, 500; first.class
limited, $50; third-class, $25. Second
class sbolished.)
This opened the war, during which
limited first-class tickets went ae low as
$5, and round-trip rates as low as $SS.
April Is, 1885, rates we're restored to
frst-clsss unlimited, $50; first-class linn
tied, $50; second.class, $35; round-trip
party rate, $50.
January 1, 1888, the party rate WAS
abolished and an individual rate of $50
WAS established. The change in the
conditions of the round-trip ticket was
for the benefit OF the passenger, in that
he was not dependent upon set dates or
the movements OF large body of excur-
sionists, but could start and travel at
pleasure.
The rate war was only one Of the
factors, and not by any means the prin-
eipal one in augmenting the westward
tide Of immigration. 1t came Just at the
season of largest traffic, and naturally,
when rates went so low, a vast number,
contemplating journey to the Pacific
Coast, took advantage of the opportunity.
Regular travel, which would have come
to US at later date, availed itself of the
low rates and crowded our trains at tina.
time, instead of being spread over con-
siderable period.
Many, actuated by desire to partici-
pate in the great profits then being made
in the realestate excitement, took a fly-
ing trip, seeing that it cost less to do SO
than to remain at home, or at least but q
trifle more. War rates were merely
nominal and could not be maintained, as
they would not only result in great loss
on through business, but would involve
the decentralization of all local traffic,
upon which this company, as we'll as ali
other roads, must needs depend for net
earnings.
The friends of this movement are argu-
ing from falee premises. They take it
for granted that there has been large
falling off in the immigration to this
State since the war in the early part of
1885. The following figures, showing the
west.bound business by years, will
demonstrate that they are in error: 1884,
$1,000: 1885, IS. .4S2; 1886, 92,21O; 1887,
96,096; 1888, 100,7S6.
The months of 1889 which have been
figured up show an increase over the
corresponding months of 1888.
The rates west of the Missouri river are
established by the Transcontinental AS
sociation, of which there are some twenty
roads members. The association, at a
meeting just held in st. Louis, has
affirmed existing rates. No action look
ing towards reduction could be taken
by this company, an individual member,
as any change requires the unanimous
consent Of all members, and they all
consider them to be as low as the present
amount of traffic will justify.
That present rates are reasonable there
can be no question, and in proof thereof
the following comparisons are made be-
tween rates received east and west OF the
Missouri river:
On rates st. Paul to Los Angeles via
Sioux City, the lines from st. Paul to
Sioux City receive per mile, on round
trip, 2 70 cents; fret class, 2. 90 cents :
second class, q 90 cents.
The lire Sioux City to Los Angeles
receives, on round trip, 1.79 cents; first
class, 2. .68; second class, 1.55 cents.
On rates ST. Louis to Los Angeles via
Kansas City the lines st. Louis to Kan
sas City receive per mile. on round trip,
2.12 cents; first class, 2.65 cents; second
class, 65 cents.
The lines Kansas City to Los Angeles
receive per mile, on round trip, l.64
cents; first class, 2.45 cents; second
class, 1.42 cents.
On California buainasa tho limos he-