Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-07-24
KICK ON THE SPECIAL RATE Fac
Considering the ACCESSIBILITY Of Re.
fusing Special Rates TO Big
Gatherings

Chicago, July 1o.-Railroad traffic
men of both eastern m western rail.
roads are considering the advisability
Of refusing in the future TO make low
rates for big meetings. Should they
reach such "a conclusion and maintain
an agreement which should be based
upon it, il is probable that the big an
nIal gatherings of teachers, church
workers, soldiers, societies and indus.
trial organizations would become
things of the past.
This year more than II other has
shown To the railroad men that il il
foolish. from a eyenu standpoint, to
make low rates for these big meetings.
The fact is more apparent this year be-
cause the big meetings have come close
together. The Christian Endeavur
convention at San Francisco and the
national educational convention at
Milwaukee are just over. The Ep-
worth league meeting is now in To-
runto. The Baptist Young Peoples So
cicty is now in session, and
the Grand Army OF the Republic en-
campmcnt is near al hand. The Elks
have hardly returned home from Min
ncapolis. Many members of church
organizations are already on the way
to conventions. To all of these rates
OF at least one and onc-third fares
have been granted.
Western men declare that the Chris.
tian Endcavor excursions have reduced
their local business TO almost nothing.
Passenger trains running regularly
have not in them enough passengers to
keep the conductors busy. What few
are travelling are business men. East
-. ..n H.. ..... .....n 49,. 100. lt,.....-
IN their territory. Local trains run al
Dust empty, and would have no pas
srnecrs were it NOT for the fact that
some people are Obliged 70 travel.
"a The reason of this state of affairs is
the cheap rate for big meetings. Rail
road men are agreed that everyone
who expected to take n pleasure trip
this summer has rome on one of these
excursions. They have paid cheap
rates for Il long trip that is very expen-
siyc to the railroads, when otherwise
they would have expended the same
amount Of money ON a short trip that
would have added nothing to the cN-
penses of the railroad.
"Look at the Christian Endpayor
business said a passenger official
yesterday. "The rate is but $50 TO
NdlllOIlid anu Dd'N, TESS lllah Il cent
a mile. TO handle il the railroads have
TO put on special trains, hire extra
ears and engines and extra crews Of
men. The rate is hardly enough to pay
expenses. What is the effect on local
business! Simply to kill it. People
who went 10 California are people who
would have gone some where else. to
a nearby summer resort, to a city or
to visit relatives. They would have
been carried on trains running rcgu-
larry by the railroads and ut regular
rates. or at summer tourist rates,
which are lower but which are perfect
" satisfactory to railroad officials.
Exactly the same amoun of money
would have been expended i'm trans
portation, but i'm the n case il would
have helped the railroads net earn
ings. while in the other il does not.
1t is plainly evident hat the railroads
are losers by these big movements, and
l shall not be surprised to see them
pat an end TO them, at least AT ride
ulously low rates