The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-01
THE WORLD ON WHEELS
The Alton Replies to Finley by Re-
ducing the Rates to Different
Places.
The Fare From Chicago to Kansas
City Will Probably DO to
$40 Again.
The BURLINGTON Announces That It viii
Resume tho Payment of nan
sions-Short Lines.

The sequel to Chairman Finley's reading
the Alton out Of the Western Passenger
association, because that road refused to
advance rates when ordered to do SO by the
chairman, is contained in a letter from
General Passenger Agent Charlton to MIR.
Finley, az follows:
ST have tho pleasure to advise You that
we have notified the Interstate
commission that we will place in effect on
Monday the following reduced rates: Chi
cage to st. Louis, Sc; Chicago to Kansas
City, $40; Kansas City to Chicago, $40.
These rates are rendered necessary by
mileage tickets, and excursion tickets being
made practically good to bearer on the
lines of our competitors, n by the misuse
of one way tickets from territory IN which
We are boycotted, each ticket being sold for
the express purpose Of being scalped over
the lines of our competitors. Complete
evidence of all this was placed before you
at the meeting of the sd, and in communl-
cations from this office prior to that time.
You had also obtained on your W part
direct evidence of all this by tests in the
market and on the trains of our COM
p~etitors and you were good enough to
explAlu at ZIG McctIub sAoo III tWo AAhoo
at least the manner in which mileage
tickets were manipulated in violation of
the agreement was most unsatisfactory to
you. It was shown at the meeting that on
three lines mileage tickets were made prac-
tically good to bearer. The one-way rate
named herein between Chicago and Kansas
City makes no lower rate for our competi-
tors thai they are now making on excursion
tickets, which are sold at $50 for the
round trip, and are made practically good
to bearer. The reduced one-way rate will
not decrease the revenue of our competi-
tors, and is absolutely necessary for our
protection. The same applies to the rate
from Chicago to st. Louis. We are unable
to take any other course, as The market is
loaded with tickets at scalped rates, and
our competitors are reaping a harvest be-
cause of our forbearance, only they are
counting too much. We hold in reserve the
right to make a rate of IS from st. Louis
to Chicago, and $40 from Chicago to Dem
yer. contingent upon the behavior of our
competitors. After this warning, if they
fail to reform. we shall have to apply the
proper remedy"
After the receipt Of Charlton's letter
the general passenger agents of the western
roads held q meeting at Finley's office to
consider the situation. The discussion was
brief, there being but one thing for the
chairman to do. He authorized all thu in
terested lines to meet the Atoms rates be-
tween the points named, taking effect yes
terday, and also a $40 rate between Chicago
and Omaha for basing purposes on the bus
ineas to and from points on the Missouri
river. It is understood that this action is
entirely satisfactory to the Alton, and that
no further reductions will be made by that
IQad without good cause.
There is a feeling among railroad men
that the passenger rate between Chicago
and Kansas City will never be again ad-
vanced above the $40 mark. The Atchison
has been in favor of such a rate for a long
time, bat the Burlington and Rock Island,
which have a aluable local business to
protect. have always opposed it. Now that
the rate has been forced into effect as a re-
suit of the differences between Chairman
Finley and the Alton, it is doubtful if it
can ever be put back to the $12.50 basis.
There is danger of a further reduction in
the rate from st. Louis to Chicago. The
Alton reserved the right to reduce this rate
to S., but now the Jacksonville Southeast
ern is clamoring for it, and only needs the
consent of its Chicago connection, the
Atchison road. to put it into effect. The
Atchison has not decided whether to join
its ally in reducing the rate or not.