St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-17
STATE FAIR RATES
THE QUESTION OF A So EXCUR-
SION RATE is CONSID-
Erred. --s--
MEETING LAST NIGHT
BETWEEN REPRESENTATIV
OF CoMaiERCIAL BODIES
AND RAILROAD MEN. q
NIGHT
MEETING
OPPOSITION
SOME
RAISED,
But the Matter Is to Be Farther
Considered at Il Meeting of
Passenger Agents.

have the special state fair excur-
sion rate of So for the round trip
from territory outside of the state or
not. For over two hours last even
! ing the matter was fully discussed
by the most prominent business men
of this city, members of the Com
mercial club and jobbers' union, and
| the Representatives of the passenger
departments Of the interested rail
road lines. At any rate, if the re-
quest is not granted, it will not be
the fault of the business men of this
city, for every argument that could
be advanced to further the move
ment was duly and ably presented.
The call for meeting of the lines
will be issued today, and the pas
senger men will get together on Mon
Gay morning to consider the request
placed before them. Many are will
ing to accommodate the citizens as
far as possible, but it is not yet
/ known whether all the lines will
grant the request from points in
Iowa and Illinois.
The executive committee of the job
bers' union and the officers of the
| Commercial club met with the repre-
sentatives of the passenger depart
! ments Of the st. Paul-Chicago lines
yesterday afternoon at the rooms of
the union. President Footner and Sec
rotary McGinnis presented the matter
on behalf of the Commercial club.
The Omaha was represented by Mr..
McRae, the Milwaukee by City Ticket
Agent Thorn, and Chief Clerk Val
entine was on hand for the Burling-
ton. The Jobbers' union was repre-
sented by Messrs. Lindeke, Kirk and
Gordon. Mr.. Lindelze presided. Mr..
Sticllney, Of the Great Western, came
later on.
Mr.. McGinnis informed the gather
ing that notice had been sent to all
of the railroads to be represented at
the meeting. He then related his trip
to Chicago, where he met with the
general passenger agents of all of the
Chicago-St. Paul lines and had pre-
sented to them the fact that the rail-
roads had unconsciously Disseminated
against the Twin Cities by maintain
Ing rates, while the Denver lines had
constantly cut rates. He had heard
unof1icially after the meeting that one
of the lines had signified its willing
ness to concede q, S. rate for fair week.
and since coming home he had been
informed that another line was willing
to make a So rate for the round trip.
II would be a means of bringing thou
sands OF people to the Northwest He
mad been led to believe that the Chi.
cago-St Paul lines could take action
on the matter among themselves.
10 question, Mr.. Stickney replied
that the roads had not yet had a con-
sultauon on the subject. His line was
SHORT OF EQUIPMENT
to handle vast crowds, especially as
the Iowa state fair would be held the
same week. His line would make the
usual rate of one fare for the round
TRIP from the state line, which amount
ed to IS. His line would do anvtbipe
the others would do, or more. if if
was to the interests of st. Paul or the
| Northwest, but he did not think MANY
| people could be brought to this civ
from Iowa during the week in which
their own state fair is held.
MIR. Valentine said that the roods
had held no conference on tba Snhioat
ana We're not in a position to renort
Inc usual low rate within tba e+o+a
would be granted, but it was a ones
tloh whether a very low rate outsida
the state was advisable The passen-
ger association was more a mattar Of
name than results.
MI. Thorn said the Milwaukee, would
aplde by the result of any Joint action
vi all the lines interested.
| MIR. McRae said that the low rate for
the whole week, as already announced
Moulu prlng more people to the civ
Would not crowd the roads bevond
'neir capacity on a single dav. and
Whlle there would not be so MANY Moo
PIE on a single day, the result would
ne better "A 50 rate from points with
III lhe state had already been granted
MT. McGinniS said that the meetino a.
lost SlSht OF the main issue. The idea
was TO extend this S. rate to an ex-
''aheouS territory for a short time So
as 10 re-establish immigration to this
region. The railroads need this nc
liuch as the cities, as there are mill
ions OF unoccupied acres of land I'm
mere which should be settled The
horny-handed grangers have a nrica
at which they travel. They want q *
rate or they do not travel. A short
time excursion rate would not iniura
any road nor the rate situation. I'm
less the railways and business organi-
cations work together, despite ali the
big crops, immigration will be diverted
in other directions
MI. Stlckney asked for how much ter
ritory the s. rate was desired.
Mr. Kirk replied that the committee
thought a line drawn along the R11r-
hngton at Peoria would be far enough.
The committee did not care for the
Chicago business. What was wanted
was the farmers who are looking for
new locations.
Mr.. McGinnis said that what he had
asked for was a So excursion for one
day only, and good to return within
four days.
Mr.. Kirk in a lengthy speech urged
the roads to be patriotic and look al
the proposition in a broad-gauged man.
ner, as the growth of the state means
increase of traffic for the railways.
Mr.. Moore said that another view OF
the case was the fact that the rail.
roads had for years made cheaper rates
out Of Minnesota than into the state.
Mr.. Stfckney said railroads do moi
like to depopulate their territory, es
pecially when it is already thinly set
tied.
, Mr. McGinnis reminded him, how.
ever, that hundreds of immigration
} agents were already working in thai
territory, trying to get people into
Southern states.
, Mr.. Lindeke closed the discussion
by asking Mr.. Stickney to lose sight o.
2 the immigration question and lool
! upon the side Of pleasure only, which
he might provide for the people alons
his line. He, as a citizen of ST. Pau
, and the state, was only advocating tn,
matter on behalf and in the interest O
the state fair.
Mr.. McRae agreed to call the repre-
sentatives of the lines together at al
early date and bring the matter up 70
discussion. This meeting is to be he'll;
Monday morning at the office of tn