The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-05
The New Thousand-MiIe Ticket.


Mr.. +. A. Ford, general passenger agent
of the Pennsylvania, has addressed the APP
pended letter to Mr.. f. w. Purmort, of
Van Vert, o..
Permit me to suggest. in reply to yours
OF the 9th ultlmo that the present form of
Interchangeable mileage ticket of the Cen
tral Passenger Association issue, at $780, can
not be any more inconvenient than the old
forms of tickets, so far as the interchange
with other roads concerned, because every
passenger must OF necessity have three or
four tickets of different issues with an
original outlay much in excess of $50. And
the use of money is question involved in
the matter. Under the old forms of tickets,
and especially those issued by the Pennsyl-
Yanla lines, a passenger could not go from
one point to another on different roads, as
ne can do with this new ticket On the old
ticket baggage was not checked through
any more than it is now; and it is not the
expectation of the railway companies that
the new Interchangeable ticket will be sub
stituted for their coupon tickets and their
coupon fares. The exchange ticket feature
is necessary for the proper protection OF
the railway company. 1t insureS the collec-
ton of the proper number of mileage cou-
pons and their proper return; and it also
prevents speculation in the reduced fares of
mileage tickets.
You will readily understand that we can
not refer to these matters in print, and that
we cannot always tell all of the travellers
what our reasons are for doing things; but
you may rest assured, as well as all other
Travellers that there is a good business rea-
son behind the action of the railway COM
panies which have adopted the new inter-
changeable mileage ticket and it's exchange
ticket features; and when those reasons are
better known we feel that not only your
SELF but every other party interested, will
say that we are doing the right thing; and
that as the only concession which the rail-
way companies ask of the traveller Is that
he come to the station a few minutes ahead
of leaving time of train, to give the agent
proper time to issue the proper exchange
ticket, that concession will be freely grant
ed and the plan heartily concurred in. We
shall continue our efforts to smooth over the
rough places in connection with TINS new
interchangeable mileage ticket but we have
no idea whatever of departing in any form
from the principle involved, namely, a plan
to protect our revenues and to prevent
speculation in reduced fares.
Il shall be glad to discuss the matter with
you further. We want to show the sensible
people who patronize US that we are rea-
sonable and fair. and keep them as our
friends. We are in the business of selling
transportation, and wish to have every
patron feel that he gets the worth of his
money in his dealings with the Pennsylya-
MIA lines, and all other lines with which
they may be associated"
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal
On my return from trip on the 18th ult.
/ had twenty-seven miles left in my inter-
changeable mileage book. Not wishing to
go out until the following Tuesday, 1 con-
cluded that on Monday 1 would get ticket
to the first town l would make on Tuesday,
in order to use the twenty-seven miles, so
that / could return the cover and get the
$40 rebate. On my way to the Union Sta
ton l bought another book at the Big Four
Office. presented my book at the Union
Station and asked for a ticket to Martins
vile for the following morning, which they
positively refused to give in advance.
afterward used the twenty-seven miles and
turned my book over to the Big Four office,
but have not heard of the $40 as yet This
makes $40 invested in a 1,O0O-mile book. AS
I use book week, may have $500 in
vested before l get any return.
LEONARD A. CLAIBORNE
Indianapolis, Oct. 2.