New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-19
TUE RtJLRO1DS AND THE FAIR.

The decision of the trunk line presidents 10
make no reduction of fare between Chicago and
Now-York on fast trains during the ORD
Fair and a reduction OF only 20 per cent on
all other trains, will certainly disappoint vast
number of persons. whether they are entitled
RI complain or not 1t has been generally as
snmcd that rates would be greatly reduced :;
in fact. most persons who have thought about
the WAYS and means OF visiting the hXpoSiIloh
have probably supposed that a single iarc lor
the round trip would be accepted by the rail-
road companicS Moreover, that this suppose
zion was not altogether absurd Is proved Dy
the announcement that important lines 'erml-
Mating on the Pacific Coast have agreed upon
that rate.
Railroad managers are doubtless confronted
with difficult problems in arranging to hahdle
the traffic which the Worlds Far VIII cause
and il docs not become those Who are not IA
miliar with thcsa difficulties to reason rs II
tbov did NOT exist. Some Of them. indeed, can
he readily enough conceived by anybody VINO
stops f. consider the question As Mr.. DepcN
saws cnmpcations which do not affect inc
oncration Of trains moving over short distances
NAV be exceedingly troublesome where long
distances ana OllItlfll I''NH 'i+'N' NV
case r. occurs to us, for example that the
problem of equipment between Ncw-l ork ana
Chicago and especially slcoplng-ca FAC li'leN,
might prove to be very hard to solve II tiaFoi
wore stimulated TO the highest point by the
Undue Of specially low rates. There mign'
be no profit in providing supply OF new ron
ing stock of the most expensive type, adequate
70 an artifcaly created traffic, if large part
Of il were 10 be Lett idle for years after the
close Of the Fair
But Western managers. who must have taken
this and all other questions into account are
evidently not afraid of low rates, II thclf con
illusions are correctly reported. or course II
is absurd 70 ask or expect of transportation
compancs that they shall deliberately contrlve
or consent 70 promote the success OF the J ar
at q loss 10 themselves. or even that they
should take any course which seems likely to
involve n sacrifice of what they suppose TO be
their best interests But at the same time
they are not in exactly the position OF lhHi-
viduaS. Their public relations are such as 10
demand that they shall act in liberal ana
serviccable spirit Fortunately for the public
too. the course which such spirit would sug-
cost is the course which is mlst likely ID hc
rewarded and the ShrcVdoSt managers IN"
pretty sure 10 understand that fact 50 thW
il is reasonable to expect that competition VIII
finally settle the transportation question III
favor of the people. There Is much common
sense in the reported observation OF the gen
cral manager Of the Rock Island road TINT
"thelc has never been an undertaking OF TINS
kind but what il has been found, when the
time came that abundant accommodations OF
every sort necessary 10 reach the attraction
had been provided" 1t j. perfectly true that
difc ultes generally do disappear. almost with
out observation under the stress OF necessity. or
of popular feeling and expectation which
amounts TO necessity.
One or two railroad officials are reported as
saving that no concessions need be expected
of them. inasmuch as abundant business at full
rates and great profits are assured in advance.
This is not becoming attitude for any railroad
manager TO assume, nor is it. in our opinion,
an attitude which any competent railroad man
ager will long retain. Mr.. Depews cheerful
belief that the transportation companies will
do their best to give the travelling public
satisfaction in all particulars is both crcditablc
and sagaclOus.