The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-10
NO EFFECT ON MONTANA.
The Cut in Union Pacific Rates
Does not Extend This
Distance.
It Was Merely to Meet Compe-
tition From Denver to
Chicago.
The Ticket Brokers VIII Pay No Attcn-
ton to the Anti-scalper Law, Which
Operates saturday.

Inquiry Mt tho Office of the Union Pacific
Railrond company in this city develops the
fact that the recent cut of hat road to a
1926 ate from Denver 80 Chicago and re-
turn will not apply to Helena, Butte or any
other Montana point. In fact it is doubt
full II the $25 rate will be in existence long.
1t was brought about i'll this way. The
santa Fe and Rio Grande got into a wran-
gle and began cutting rates between local
competing points east Of Denver. So pro-
nounced were the various cuts that a trav-
eler could buy a local ticket from Denver
to some point where tho two lines COM
peted; at that Point he could buy a ticket to
another competing point, and SO on to the
end of his journey, so that the several
local rates added together amounted 10
much less than the through rate. The con-
sequence was that everybody going over the
two lines merely bought local tickets
from point to point. the only
trouble involved being that of getting off
the train now and then to buy a ticket to
the next point. 1t WAS one OF the most
curious situations or complications that has
ever arisen in the history of rate wars. when
local travel was cheaper than throuGh
tickets. There was smother consequence
which the rival roads had not counted on
when they went to war. The Union Pacihc
was not interested in the local rates
of the other two roads. 80 long
as they were used only to further
local business. But when the travel
inc public found that it was cheaper to
travel on local tickets than on through
tickets, the former method became so popu-
lar az to seriously affect the business of the
Union Pacific. No. being in a position to
oompete on the several local rates. there
was nothing left for the Union Pacific but
to bring it's through rate down to a point
vhere it could retain its own business de-
spite the low local figures of the Santa re
and the kio Grande. That was what led
the Union Pacific to make a round trip rate
10 the Worlds fair at SO. The effect, it is
belle we'd, will be to bring the Others to a
realizing sense of the fact that it is not
altogether their own individual fight.
Within a week a meeting OF the passenger
agents of the three lines will very likely be
held and the war ended.
A dispatch from Omaha last night says
the Union Pacific has issued orders to sell
tickets from Utah common POINTS to Colo
a common points for 1913. and round
trip tickets for $26. The prevailing rates
have been 1926 and 1886. So 1t seems the
Union Pacific is trying to force She other
roads TO end the rate war by taking a hand
in the local cuts.
The fact that the Union Pacific, with Of
foes and branches in Montana. was taking
= hand in the fight between the Santa Fe
and the Rio Grande. was what doubtless
led to the impression that Helena. Butte
and other places in that state would share
In the benefits of the eut. II il stated on
what is u%ndoubted authority that even If
any benefit from 1t. This will be shown
from the following: The round trip rate
between Helena and Denver is $50. The
Denver Chicago rate is 1925. The two
added together make 1856, which is just
$15 more than the existing $40 rate between
Montana cities and Chicago. An official OF
the Union Pacific is authority for the state
ment that that there appears to be no pros
poet that the $40 rate on the three roads
centeTinQ here will eve. be lowered.
Under the circumstance it would seem
that Montanians will have to pny the rate
unless some now unforeseen and unantioi-
pated fight arises between the three big lines
here. At present they appear to be on the