New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-22
HOW TO GET TO THE FAIR.
A WORD TO THE WISE ABOUT GETTING
SLEEPlNG-CAR BERTHS IN TIME.

AFTER THIS MATTER NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
FROM EUROPE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN
EARLY on THE LOOKOUT FOR THE
COMFORTS OF TRAvEL-TnE
QUESTION OF RATE,
Chicago, April lO.-NeAt to having the Worlds
Fair in ones own country is the question OF how
10 get to it. The United States is conspicuous the
world over for its railroad mileage, and it is I'M
doubtedy true that every mile of railway within
the borders of the Union will he traverscd by some
one on his or her way to Chicago within the com
ing six months There few localities, proba-
bly,, which will not he represented at the ENpoSi
ton at some period during It's progress AMI there
il doubtless country on earth which can afford
the facilities provided by this country for the
qualification of the wishes of the people in connoc-
ton with visit to the metropolis on the shores
Of Lake Michigan
1t noted several weeks ago that so far
the railways reaching this roin: from the East
were concerned, Worlds Fair rates had been
tablishcd by the reduction Of onc-ffth of the egu
lar charge on round trip tickets. The great trunk
lines of the East have been busy for months pro-
viding equipment for the expected patronage flow
ing to their respective lines. II is said that the
Pennsylvania Railroad already has long lines of
passenger coaches on SIDE tracks AT some of the
principal stations waiting to be drawn into the
Rrvice of transportation of people to and from
Chicago within the next six months. The same is
true of the Ncw-York Central, over which system
with its many ramifcailons to the east and north
OF New-York City, so many visitors to Chicago
expected to travel. Additional trains will be put
in service, and il is understood that many of the
faster trains will be in sections The Penn
sylvana Railroad Company contemplate the run
ming Of its New-York and Chicago limited in two
limo S1,ln
commcdations for frst-class travel which that
train has supplied since it first introduced
into the service.
While the eastern lines have all entered an
agreement with respect to Worlds Fair rates, the
western lines continue in the struggle over the
problem. 1t is popularity of these western
cities that each is jealous of the other and it
ia this little idible of jealousy which renders the
problem of lower rates all the more difficult of
luton. For years in the history of railway COM
panes it has been common to submit to the pas
senger associations the question of the fixing of
rates for excursion parties in cases where large
bodies of people were to he moved from different
localities 10 common central point Wien a
State agricultural fair is to be held at some place
within the boundaries of commonwealth, the
railroads are applied to to make round-trip rate,
and it is customary for them on all such appeals
10 respond satisfactorily. Reductions in these
cases, however, only intended 10 period
of few days. But the Chicago Exposition Is to
last for six months, and any rate that is estab-
lished must be continuous throughout that period. |
OF course the gravtation of travel is necessarily
in the direction of Chicago. Therefore, it follows
that in pursuance of this instinct of jealousy, other
towns and cities, recognized as railway centres,
feel themselves, it were left out in the cold.
The chief obstacle in the way of arranging rates
h 20 diva 20 oh
jections of cities like indianapolis, st. Louis and
Kansas City. The people in these cities look upon
the rates in favor of Chicago in a certain sense
discrimination against themselves. They seem
to apprehend that in the great trend of travel to-
ward Chicago they must themselves suffer loss
of that patronage which comes from the soourning
of transient tourists among Them and they con-
! clude that they are not being justly dealt with.
1t appears like basis for reasoning. but
it is sufficiently broad to delay an adjustment Of
this highly important question.
The railroads themse Ives, through their officials,
seem to be anxious TO accommodate the public,
although one hears on all sides complaints to the
effect that business of this kind is undesirable
in that it results in retarding the movement of
freight, and in general demorazing the service. |
The instance is pointed to of the gathering at
Washington last year of the Grand Army of the J
Republic: and it is said that tie result on that |
occasion was an actnol loss Oh many thousand
dollars in tbs aggregate to the several roads, be-
c-so VI the congestion at points for side-tracking
in order to admit of the passage Of the trains
tanning the favored travellers. But all the roads
recognize the fact that the people going to the
Fair, and that railway accommodations must be |
accorded them, and they are doing their best 70 |
provide the ways and means response q the
general demand While the question of individual
rates has been thoroughly canvassed, and. 80 far
as the eastern territory is concerned settled an
other subject must later present itself for con-
sderation That is, the basis of Iates for the trans
portation Of bodies Of tourists There will I'M
doubleday be an effort made by societies or By
communities to charter special trains which shall
come westward over one line and return by an
other. No official discussion has yet taken place
bearing upon this point, but when it comes 70 be
considered it will, of course, involve an agree
nent by all the principal lines
Another feature which must be interesting TO the
traveller from extreme Eastern points, as we'll az
from other sections of the country is that of sleep
ng-car accommodations. The service IN this re-
gard Is limited by the supply of cars afforded by
the two great sleeplng-car companies, the Pullman
and the Wagner. 1t is probably not generally
known that for weeks applications have been
received at the offices of these companies for sec
lions and berths two and three months in advance
ana that on some trains running, for instance,
1rcm New-York to Chicago on dates as far remote
as the middle of June, not a berth remains ua-
sold. 1t is especially TO be noticed that many for
esners who intend to visit the Exposition have
token time by the forclock, and through the kind
offices Of friends in this country or by application
direct 10 the slcepng-car companies themselves,
have secured accommodations from the seaboorl
westward to correspond with the date of their
expected arrival at Atlantic ports Obviously.
then, it would not be out of place for residents Of
eastern localities who intend to come here at any
time between the Isl of May and the LIST of DC
tober, to set themselves about the important duty
OF securing in advance this comfortable feature of
travel. For their guidance the slecping-car con-
nectiOns at the East for Chica1o NOV Lo,o n, |