New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-09


RAILROAD RATES TO THE EXPOSITION
Just complaint is made by the merchants of
New-lok that the city was not literally treat
ed when the N road companies arranged their
excursion rates - prevail during the Column
ban celebration Of next week. The time
limit e the tickets barely Sufices 10 cover all
the exercises and pagcan,s, and the rate-one
and onc-,hird fare for the round trips higher
than that usually fixed when n city has special
attractions to offer to visitors in the way Of an
exhibition convention or ceremony. The gen
orally astute passenger chieftains Of our roads
must have had a wofully inadequate concep-
ton Of the importance and brllliancy Of the
proposed celebration. or they took m unfair
advantage of the diHidcnce with which too often
the community urges its Gains - cJnsidcra-
ton on the part of the transportation lines.
Other cities. rs rule, secure n onc-fare rate
for a round trip when they make particular
effort 70 invite visitors t. their Inequalities,
and especially at the West the railroad,
apt - be generous in the life which they give
10 excursion tickets.
No mistaken economy must govern the rail-
ways when they arrange 70: fhcir treatment
of the Chicago Exposition next year. There
is popular demand that every effort shall be
made TO induce the visitors al the great Worlds
Fair TO extend their sightseeing to this mighty
and interesting city. Newly FORK must share
in the prosperity that will be set in motion
by the millions Of travellers TO the magnicen,
industrial exhibition on the shores Of Lake
Michigan. Her stores, her shops. her theatres
will attract tens OF thousands Of patrons if the
H.. ,,-;lI La, t-1ta hot cit
and Chicago. Ncw-Yorks merchants have pc
culiar claims upon the lines of roads centring
here. but there is hardly railway between the
two seaboards which does not feel benefit in
some measure from the commercial and indus
trial activities Of the metropolis. The business
interests of the city may therefore with Justice
require that the most generous treatment be
accorded to them by the carriers Of freight and
passengers, to whose prosperity they so con-
SANITY contribute. Selfish considerations alone
should stimulate the railways to assist in bring
ing to this city as many Of Chicagos visitors
as may be possible, but there is also a moral
obligation resting on the roads through the
advantages enjoyed from Ncw-York's COM
merce.
Ii does not seem unreasonable TO ask that
while the Columbian Exhibition remains open
the railroads shall carry excursion passengers
between the two cities for one regular fare for
the round trip. The regular rates on the lin
tied trains need not be disturbed, if il is thought
best not to disturb them, but a low rate that
will increase travel to mammoth proportions is
imperatively needed 1t has been objected to
by railroad managers that they have been OK
pending and purpose further to expend, enor-
nous sums in improving roadbcds, increasing
equipment and adding to terminal facilities for
the purpose OF handling the Worlds Fair traffic
Earnings have been diverted from stockholders
and in some instances fresh capital has been
secured for these objects. Therefore, it is
urged. there should be handsome returns for
this outlay. But these investments are porma.
nent in character, and, once made most OF these
improvements remain rs elements in more eco
nOmcal operating when traffic shall settle into
its normal volume. Ii would be unfair TO cx-
pect them to be paid for out Of one years
special business Moreover the impulse that
will be given to internal and foreign trade by
the agency Of the Chicago Exposition will fur
nlsh the roads with permanent benefit that
otherwise would be slower in coming. When
normal rates are restored, il will be unOn a
volume of traffic and travel whose increase
may be clearly traced to the influence of the
great industrial display of the Nation and Of
the world at Chicago in 1898.
1t is true that were the fare to Chicago cut
in two the railways must carry double the
| number of passengers in order to secure the
same amount Of gross revenue. 1t is railroad
| axiom, however, that there is but triflng
increase in the operating cost in running a