The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-09-06
Rates to the Worlds Fair Said to De
Likely to BE Put at that
Figure.
Railroads Figuring on Colonel Shep-
ards Scheme to Benefit
Workingmen.
Believed Such Rates Can De Made
That Over Half the Country
Will See the Fair.

CHICAGO, Sept. 6.--The Western Pas
senger association will hold meeting
for the purpose of discussing the rates
to Chicago on the occasion of the dedi-
cation of the worlds fair buildings in
October, and also to consider the advis-
ability of appointing committee to
confer with similarly appointed COM
mittees from the other passenger associ-
ations regarding the same subject. 1t
Is probable that a one-fare rate for the
round trip will be agreed upon. That
this course is almost sure to end in a
rate war similar to those which
took place on the occasion Of the
conclave of the Knights Templar
at Denver aud the encamp-
ment of Pythians at Kansas
City is generally admitted, and railroad
officials are casting about to find some
means of establishing harmony during
the six months that the faif viii remain
open. In this connection it has been
suggested thatsome such scheme as that
proposed by Colonel Elliott r. Shepard,
of the New York Mail and Express,
should be submitted to the different
passenger associations in the West. The
fact that almost every attempt on the
part Of the railroads in the past to keep
excursion rates up to one fare or q fare
and third for round trip has ended in
q rate war Is a strong argument in favor
M the adoption of low rate in the first
place. Colonel Shepard proposes that
the railroads shall notify the Interstate
commerce commission OF q new sub
division of grade of passenger rates to
be known as the 'sworkingmen's class.
Rates would be established for this
travel az they are now for the first and
second class passengers, except, of
course, they would be much lower. The
plan is that the railroads shall figuf8
just how far they can move i train q
given number of cars, with MI CA II
r0ccupieds for - cents per passenger.
These trains are not to be subject to
any charge for interest on the
vested capital, salaries Of executive e,offi-
GERS, advertising, taxes or the numer-
ous other charges toward the payment
OF which all regular trains now contrib
ute. The cost of running these trains
would include only the actual wages of
trainnaen, fuel, oil and the printing of
tickets. Having ascertained how many
lies train could be transported on
this basis at the rate of 90 cents for
each passenger, Colonel Shepard pro-
poses that 10 cents be added for injury
to the rolling stock, profit, etc, and that
the fare to Chicago should be 81 multi
piled by the number OF times the mile
age is greater than the number that
could be covered for 90 cents for each
passenger. Several prominent railroad
men in the East are figuring on Colonel
Shepard plan, and it is reliably stated
that one or two roads are nearly ready
to announce conclusions, justiiying the
statement that the plan is the greatest
one conceived for cheap transportation
tor workingmen. 1t Is believed by
those who have carefully investigated
the plan that rates can be made that
win insure the presence at the fair of
fully two-thirds OF the entire population
RI fha rf,unA,rx,