The National tribune., 1892-06-02
SUCCESS OF TIE ZONE SYSTEM.

SUCCESS OF THE ZONE SYSTEM.
Two years ago The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
paid much attention to the g Zone System"
then recently introduced upon the Hun
garian railroads, and urged the adoption of o
similar system, with suitable notifications,
upon the railroads of this country. The
workings of this plan since then have ex-
ceeded the sanguine anticipations formed
after the first few months succeeding it's
inauguration.
In Hungary all the railroads center at
Buda- Pesth. A circle is drawn around that
city al distance of 25 kilometers, about Is
miles. This is called the First Zone," and
a ticket so designated is good for any
point, and on any road, within that
circle. The Second Zone is circle drawn
about Is kilometers, about 10 miles from
the First Zone, and similarly ticket
for that zone is good for any point within
the circle. So the circles are constantly en-
larged-15 kilometers at time-until the
whole country is covered, the last one being
the 18th, which takes in all the country
lying beyond circle drawn 225 kilometers
(140 milesl from Buda-Pesth. The rates of
fare were reduced very greatly, in some cases
80 per cent, In others sc per cent. and in
still others Is per cent The average was
nearly two-thirds-that is, the tickets were
sold at about one-third the rates existing
before the system was put into effect.
The good results were so immediate and
startling as to attract the attention Of rail
road men and economic thinkers all over
the world. Prior to its adoption in 1889 the
average number of passengers carried by the
railroads of Hungary each year was 2,oooo 600.
Within five months Of 1889, after the sys-
tenn went into effect, the roads carried
$500 900 passengers. The next year-1s90
they carried 6.e5O,00O, and in 1891 the
number Was still larger, though the exact
figures have not yet been given out.
Before the adoption of the system the
railroads were barely paying expenses. Now
they are making handsome returns. They
have nearly four times as much business as
formerly, and that business is conducted ut
but little more expense. The same admin
istrative officials, the same telegraph opera
tors, conductors, engineers, fremen, and
brakemen, the same roadway, bridges, en-.
gines, cars, roundhouses, and other equipment
suffice for the larger business. Tho only
difference is that instead of the trains being
only one-third or one-quarter filled, as for
merly, they are now entirely full. The
simplifcation Of the ticket system has
allowed the cutting of Of very expensive
lot of officials, clerks and offices devoted to
drumming up and keeping track Of the pas
senger traffic. The effect upon the country
has been excellent. The people of the slug
gish provinces have been wakened up by the
freer communication with the outside world
and there is more progress noted in the
agricultural districts in the Last three years
than in any score of previous years.
There is no doubt that system akin to
that of the zone will in q few years be
| adopted in every civilized country. We
have urged and still urge that our people
begin at once to think about demanding Of
Congress the application to the railroads Of
this country of such modification of the sys-
| tenn az will be suited to the different con-
ditions existing here. Our idea of the main
| features of such q system would be, in the
rough, about this:
/. That standard rate Of fare per mile
be established for all the railroads east of,
say, the Tooth meridian.
q That this rate should be in no instance
more than one-half the present average rate,
and probably had better be one-third. Or the
rate might be fixed at one cent mile, with
increasing deductions for long-trip tickets.
3. The zone idea could be represented by
making the tickets for 10 miles, or multiples
of the same.
4. All the present costly system of the
railroads for soliciting passenger traffic and
selling tickets to be done away with, and
tickets to be on sale, like postage-stamps, at
places of public resort
| g. An increasing reduction to be made for
each multiplication of the 10-mile unit.
That is, 20.mile ticket might be sold for 10
cents, 30-mile for % cents, o 50-pile for As
cents, 10O-mile for IS cents, and SO on.
Q. Tickets to be good for the distance they
represent on any railroad in the country.
The result of such q systsm would be
that there would be an immense cheapening
Of fares all over the country, communion
ton with all parts would be greatly facili-
tated, 10 people would travel where one
dos now, the progress Of the country