The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-30
ARE MOVING SOUTH.
MICHIGAN is BECOMING ALARMED AT
THE EXODUS OF HER PEOPLE.

The Passenger Association of That State
VIII Henceforth Refuse to Give Home
Seekers Reduced Fares--This VIII Not,
IL Is Thought, Stop Emigration.
Emigration from the middle west to
the south has attained such proportions
that it is viewed by the press and many
of the people of the former section with
a degree of disfavor that is akin to
alarm The state of Michigan is one of
the commonwealth that are seriously
affected by this movement. In order TO
check the exodus the Passenger associa-
tion of that state has taken action
against giving reduced rates to home
seekers excursions.
The Detroit Journal says that this
action was taken on the ground that
such excursions encourage emigration to
the disadvantage of the state The in
terests of the railroads represented, as
well as those of the state, are involved,
and The Journal says the association
took an Intelligent view of the mat
ter. Our Detroit contemporary sub
mits that if the railroads should by Of
fering special excursion inducements
encourage emigration their own inter
ests would suffer more or less therefrom.
We suppose this is lawful and 1t may
he polite, but il is very unusual, If not
an entirely new departure. 1t has never
been the custom of transportation COM
panies to discriminate in favor of one
and against another kind Of excursion
parties. The railroads have made re-
auctions in rates for political, religious,
social, educational and many other in
terests. During the campaign of 1896
millions of men Were transported for
half fare or less, and many of them for
good deal less, i'll order that they
might attend political meetings. This
was not merely proper, but commend
able, and we have no doubt it was prof
liable to the railroads There are half
fare excursions every day in the year TO
points of interest in all parts of the
country Hundreds of them go TO every
point of the compass on long or short
routes to the profit Of the roads, to the
benefit of the people whom they carry
and of the residents of the localities
which they visit. During the last few
years the home seekers excursion has
become almost an established institu'
ton, and it has received the same con-
sideration at the hands of the railways
that they have accorded to other parties.
But it appears that Michigan has had
enough of this kind of travelling, and
the railroads of that state deem it expe-
dent to apply the brakes in the shape
of full fare for all home seekers whether
they go singly or i'll hundreds. The
Journal thinks that in taking this ac
ton against home seekers excursions
the association has undoubtedly done a
good thing for the would be home seek
ers, who would avail themselves of the
inducements offered TO emigrate TO some
other state The reason why The Jour
nal thinks that way is found in its as
sertion that Michigan is one of the best
and most desirable states of the Union
to live in and that, of the people who
have moved out of it, hoping and expect
ing to better their condition, a large
majority have been disappointed.
Undoubtedly Michigan is IA good state
for all of her citizens who are contented,
but that a great many Michigan people
are not contented is evident from this
action of the transportation companies.
| Many families from that state have gone
south, and others are preparing to go.
This denial Of excursion rates may check
| the movement to some extent, but it
will not stop it, The advantages offered
| by the south will inevitably draw large
ly from the northwest. Washington
| Post