The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-11-28

BosToN, Nov. 2s.-The problem of pas
senger rates to the Worlds fair at Chicago
has been practically settled.
A reporter to-day succeeding in secur
ing an interview with gentleman un
doubtedly the best informed railroad
man in New England, who talked freely
on the troublesome question of rates tC
the fair. The conditions under which he
spoke was that his identity should re
main concealed. This was agreed to and
the inside workings Of the great meetings
of general passenger agents at Chicago
is now first given TO the public.
He said: us is significant fact that
the trunk line PASSENGER committee has
practically admitted its inability to cope
with the question of Worlds Fair rates,
and at its last meeting. having thorough
ly discussed it, 1t recognized the impossi-
bility of reconciling the many conf citing
interests. and unanimously agreed to re-
fer the whole matter t. the board OF pres
idents, as a result OF this. / read an
article. in morning paper the other day
in which Mr.. Depew states that the rates
will not be lower than a % per cent re-
duction would make them. This means
"A rate OF $50 for tickets, New York to
Chicago via. the standard lines, and for
once. think the genial doctor must be
induging his fastidiousness at the ex-
pense Of the public generally. If he did
not, he certainly cannot be informed as
TO the reductions and methods in use, not
only by the trunk line committee but by
al of the leading traffic associations of
the country as well.
For ordinary conventions OF 100 or
more delegates, the usual reduction is
one and one-third fare for the round trip
which would make the round trip rate TO
New York and Chicago S2667; while for
gatherings, such as the National En-
campment of the Grand Army, conven-
tions or the National Educational Asso-
citation, Young Peoples Society OF Chris
tian Endeavor, etc, at rate OF one fare
for the round trip, $40, has always been
made, therefore think Mr.. Depew must
have been '!oliying' the reporter, and that
individual credited the DOCTORS jocular
utterances as sober truths.
Every passenger man in the country
has his pet scheme for handling this
traffic, aud for the purpose OF airing
them a meeting of general passenger
agents was called in Chicago the first of
last week.
"A report of what was done there has
not yet been made public, but the method
which met with the most approval is
about as follows:
Taking the lines from New York
(whose action will Undoubtedly be fol-
lowed by the New England lines), for eX-
ample, the standard lines-thaU is, the
New York Central and Pennsylvania
Will have three styles round-trlp tickets.
The first style will be sold at one fare
and one-third and will be good on any
regular train except the limited, and,
the holder desires to purchase
seat or berth, will he good in palace cars
The second style will be sold at one
fare and will be good On any train, al
ways excepting the limited, but purchas-
ers cannot procure space in palace cars
on them.
THE third and last style will be sold at
one lowest differential fare (which from
New York TO Chicago is Sl7l, and will be
good only on special traius composed en-
tirely of day coaches which will be run
once week, or oftener, as the business
may warrant.
"The time limit of these tickets will
vary. Those of the first class will be good
for sixty days, those of the second for
thirty days and those of the third for ten;
but all three classes of ticket will be for
passage In each direction. No
stop over being permitted, and will have
TO De deposited viii h joint agent OF the
Chicago Terminal lines during the stay of
The holder, and can ouly be Withdrawn
1n the day the holder desires to return.
The differentIal lines. the Baltimore
and Ohio, West Shore, Erie, ETC., will
also have the same classes of tickets, but
lavin z no limited trains tickets to the
irst and second class will be good on all
rains.
This method has the advantage of
placing all lines on an equality, and from
present indications seems to be most
likely to be adopted"