The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-11
Those MILEAGE BOOKS
Calling Them in Has Caused Endless
Conjecture.
SOME OF THE REASONS GIVEN
II Is Asserted That They VIII Be Rcis.
sued in Different Form and with
Greater Restrictions Imposed
Upon the Holder.

But little information can be OBJ
tained in this city in connection with
the Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern cOmpany's action in stopping the
sale Of mileage books None OF the dis
trict on travelling passenger agents or
depot officials have been Informed OF
the comDany's reason for the order 1t
Is suspected however, that the Lacka-
wanna's action Is but the forerunner
of "a complete revolution in rates and
system to be adopted by all the rail
roads in the Eastern Trunk lines asso-
citation.
Subordinate ticket officials and com
mGrcial men believe that the Lacka-
wanna road Is about TO announce
either Il two-cent rate or to begin
selling mileages Of 5000 miles for 500
1t is argued that in either case the com
pany win be much benefited, and that
the public would be especially accom-
| modated If the former proposition Is de-
cided upon. All agree that passenger
traffic Is lighter than for many years.
that the coal carrying trunk line roads
have made only small profit out of pass
enger service and that the scalper and
ticket broker are largely accountable
for the two conditions.
one Reason Assigned
a gentleman well versed in railroad
matters yesterday cited to a Tribune
reporter the passenger service of the
New York Central road. According
to its charter it cannot charge over
two cents per mile, and for that reason
has never issued any mileages. 1t is,
nevertheless, fact, he said, that the
New York Central does a larger pass
enger business, local and through, than
any trunk line between Buffalo and
| New York City. or in the East.
The gentleman argues that the East
ern Trunk Lines association aspires to
two things-to make more money out
of its passenger interests and to des-
| troy the profits of the scalpers and
! brookehs He said that a two-cent rate
would include any distance, whether
from Scranton to Bnghamton or from
| New York to Buffalo. In either case
| travelling would be cheaper, by about
| 10 to 10 per cent, than at present, but
the companies would more than offset
this reduction by the increased traffic
In case the J,OOO-mile mile age book
system Is adopted the present excursion
ticket policy and rates will remain in
force, but the mileage books at 500
| each will be so handled that 1t vii! be
| impossible to transfer them. The
gentleman said that a buyers descrip-
| tion, even to the color Of his hair and
eyes and possibly his photograph, would
be contained In the book.
They Are All at sea.
Everything said yesterday among
| travelling men and ticket officials was in
the nature of surmise. 1t could not be
| learned that the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western general passenger
agent had sent any instructions or eX-
plantations beyond the original order
to stop selling mileages. Railroad men
are chary of talking at all and CONNER
| cial travellers are very wrathy. 1t is
anticipated that today will bring forth
| information which will throw more
| light on the matter.
According to other information the
new move is merely preparatory to an
issuance of mileage book which Will
be good on the Lackawanna. Jersey
Central, or Reading roads, and possibly
the Lehigh Valley. There has lately
been an inclination toward such a
scheme. but the Trunk Lines associa-
ton objected because it could not in
clude the Lehigh Valley. Many be
lieve the objection has been overcome
and that orders will soon be received
verifying this belief
The president and vice-president of
the Jersey Central. j. Rogers Maxwell
and George f. Baker, are also directors
of the Lackawanna.