Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-29
SANTA FE APPEAL,
The Management Sends Out ON I'm
portant Circular.
FAIR EXCURSION RATES TOO HIGH.
shortsighted Policy In the Agreement to
Keep the Fare So High The People
May lie Angered and Re-
sent II

CHICAGO, June 2s-The Santa Fe has
issued circular declaring that II was
in favor of one-fare excursion rates to
Chicago from all western territory and
inviting other roads TO make these
rates The Union Pacific, Missouri Pa
cifc and Rock Island roads are willing
TO make the rate, but the Alton and
Burlington are opposed to IT, The
matter will come up at the meeting ON
Friday. Under present conditions
there can be no one-fare excursion
rates before August 1, but the Santa
desires 70 put them into effect ut once.
In It's circular the Santa Fe says;
Notwithstanding the temporary agree
ment which was made few weeks ago
we believe the condition of worlds fair
traffic and the failure to realize what
we expected in both gross and net pas
senger revenue has demonstrated TO all
traffic officials the necessity for special
excursion rates TO Chicago at n date
much earlier than August 1. Our
experience is that our regular trains,
with some extra equipment are sufl-
Client 10 comfortable handle all
have not found II necessary TO
run extra sections Of our regular trains,
except two or three days, since May /,
when special organized parties were
moving over our line. After careful
canvass of the situation, particularly
west of the Missouri river, we find no
grounds for the belief that our present
business will materially increase dur
ing the worlds feir period, unless some
concession Is made TO the popular de-
mand for lower rates We be-
lieve that our present rates are low
enough Tor passengers who de-
sire preferred accommodations We
believe they should not be lower
on our regular trains, provided that ex-
cursion trains without sleeping car ac-
commodations are run ON special dates
and lower rates are made for these
special dates. We do not share the
opinion that N cheap excursions ore
run on all special trains and dates, with
say ten,day limit, that our present
worlds fair traffic will suffer any ma
terial reduction, because it is our OBJ
servation that the present traffic is
largely created by people who would
not be content TO take the more demo
cratic excursion trains without sleep
ing cars or dining cars and with short
limit for the return.
MANY people along our lines who
had intended visiting the worlds fair
in the anticipation that rates as low al
BE have customarily made In the past
would be made for this great event,
have abandoned their intention in
whole or in part because our rates are
more than expected. Many members
of families are being left at home for
this reason. Many parties have been
abandoned for this reason.
"a spirit Of resentment IL being ere
ated IN the minds of western people
against the railroads, which, IL allowed
TO grow, can only work to the cmbar-
rassment of the railroads This feel
ing can be prevented or dissipated by
recognizing the popular demand for
cheap excursions Since the worlds
fair rates were agreed upon the imam
eal conditions in the west have made
people more conservative in their eX-
penditures and this, added to the pre-
vious condition Of high rates,
has tended 10 keep people at
homo. So far as we are con.
cerned we place our position not on
sentiment but on purely business
grounds. We want to earn tie most
money possible, and so long as we have
from eighty 10 100 idle coaches every
day on the one hand and crowds Of
,,app1a ,villfno. 20 ,,a,, a.. bt,,l, .,.,.,,..
sion rates as We usually get on the
other hand, we know that we IRE los
ing money by allowing these coaches
10 remain idle. II may be different
with your company-condition vary
materially.
1--WE not only want TO earn moro
money, but we want 10 fprbstall any
large popular movement To reduce reg
ular passenger rates. We want to fore
stall this, because the time is not here
for reducing rates, and because it is
wise TO be in accord with public senti-
ment whe never IL is possible. Our reg
ular passenger trains are run at a high
rate Of expense, and we cannot main.
tain the present desles of efficiency II
aur revenue h interfered with, but II
on such occasions as the worlds fair
we say TO the people that we
will not meet their expectations on
popular rates, there is some ground for
the peoples idea that II We DO not vol
unfairly recognize their expectations
they Will resort TO other means TO Sc
cure what they ask, and when we re-
fleet that their expectations are based
on what the roads have Voluntarily
done, this argument has much weight
1t is useless 10 argue that II il not fair
nor reasonable They point 10 the past
as a reasonable basis for the future. REQ,
ognizing all these facts and conditions
we beg TO urge upon you the necessity
for immediate action toward the end
desired. We urge the desirability Of
having meeting, not later than June
20, in Chicago 10 formulate the most
feasible plan for meeting the popular
demand and earning more money for
our companies These excursions
should begin Immediately and run
through the balance of the season II
they are found 10 be successful. Will
you kindly iasor me with an early ex-
preston Of your views on this subject?"
=--z-z-zz-
Gov. West, Of Utah, says the people
Of that territory are anxious for state
hood.
Dr. McGlvnn is en- route Ia 81 pnuI