St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-17
PASSENGER AGENTS DISCUSS
HOMESEEKERS, EXCURSIONS
WITH ANIMATION,
FIRMER RATES DEMANDED.
TO BE THE DISTURBING =
ELEMENT.
THEY WANT THE FARMER BAD,
And Want to Run Low Rate Ex-
cursions All the Winter
Long.

The meeting of the Western Lines
Passenger association adjourned at
Chicago yesterday in a state of con-
dition which bordered nearly to
general row. When the meeting was
called it was for the ostensible pur-
pose of reaching some conclusion by
Which the rate situation might be
placed upon a firmer basis, and fut-
ure troubles for this season avoided.
But there is always some disturbing
element, which, like Banco's ghost,
will not down, and it bobbed UP Sc
renely at the Chicago meeting, and
was sufficiently strong to Illustrate
all plans for better arrangement
OF plans. AS result, the local rail-
road men returned and are possessed
of but little hope of a maintenance
of a stable rate sheet.
AT the meeting which just adj
journed, the disturbing element was
the Illinois Central railroad This
line has vast interests in large land
holdings in Mississippi, and is very
anxious to settle the vacant lands
Therefore it demanded the privilege
Of running home-seekers' excursions
not only this fall, but all through
the winter season up until early in
May. The Northwestern lines natur-
ally objected to so prolonged a sea-
son Of decentralization of passenger
rates, and the fun was on. The
;,,f -
excursions out of Iowa and Illinois,,
whether or no, and has given notice
to that effect. What the other lines
will do can be better imagined than
related at this date. 1t will probably
result in the fight of the period for
traffic in immigrants and homeseek-
ers, as the Northwestern lines are
not slow to recognize the need Of
protecting their tributary territory.
Mr.. McRae, of the Omaha's passen-
ger department, stated publicly yes
terday that the usual harvest eXcur-
sions, on a basis of one fare for the
round trip, would be granted again
during the fall months this year, on
stated occasions. The Omaha wants
to bring the people into the Northwest
when the country looks it's best, and
that is always the autumn. Just after
the harvesting of a big crop and while
the threshing machine is making mu-
sic in the fields is the best time for,
homeSeekerS to see what the country
can produce. The Chicago meeting,
however, failed to agree on forms and
dates for these excursions and the
lines now stand individually Oh the
proposition. The local companies may
get together and fix up some agree
ment on the issue, but there are no,
assurances that it will be accom-
plished.
"While we have an association so
called" said one of the passenger men
last evening, sit practically does not
amount to anything on any material
issue. 1 doubt if it will really accom-
plish anything, and all our differences
only serve to make things nice and
interesting for those lines who are
outside of the association. We are
keeping our eye on the Knights Tenn
plar business just now and are afraid
somebody will jump over the traces
before the season for those tickets is
over" And with this remark he cast
wistful eye towards the 500 lines
office, as if anticipating some thun-
derbolt to fall from that direction.