The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-09

Midsummer and the season for tourist
travel to the West has arrived, and stu
there is no end to the passenger rate war.
II there has been any recent change in
the situation among the transcontinental
lines, it has been rather to intensity the
struggle. Western general agents OF the
various lines involved in the controversy
are shy nowadays OF expressing belief
that the low rates ara to be succeeded by
;ions that the warning lines viii adjust
their differences.
Railroad men all say that the reads are
losing money when it is possible to go to
New York from Seattle for SIS lirst class
or $25 second class. They assert that there
is no margin for a dividend with tickets
to Chicago at $2l.50 second class. and to
Omaha for $40. Travellers observe, how
ever that there is almost as much rivalry
for business among the ticket Offices OF
the competing lines in Seattle as for
merry.
Some people say that 1t Is cheaper to
travel now under present conditions than
to stay at home. The railroad IGen take
this view of it, This is perhaps due to
the fact that hundreds of people are TAX
ing advantage of the low rates TO go East
and see the folks down on the farm"
East-bound travel is just now much
heavier than that west bound, which
shows, IN the opinion Of railroad men.
that people on their vacations are improv-
ing the opportunity presented to travel
cheaply.
Cut Into the Cut.
Time and again there is in circulation
among the railroad offices the statement
that certain lines are cutting under the
low rates in order to make strong show
ing and to build up a business through
certain territory which viii prove profit
able later on. Recently the statement was
published in an Eastern railroad magazine
that the railroad agents Of San Francisco
We're selling tickets to competitive points
in the East on a fiat rate. that is. with
out the, rebate. The railroads. it will be
remembered, agreed early IN the rate war
TO protect the business to intermediate or
Western points by demanding almost full
fare to competitive Eastern points, with q
stub attached to the ticket emitting the
holder TO a rebate of the difference be-
tween the amount charged and the fare.
A general agent OF one OF the ,ranscon-
tinental lines was asked yesterday II this
practice had been followed in Seattle. 1T
most assuredly has was his reply.
Every now and again some one comes In
here and tells me that one of the other
agents has offered them a ticket to some
Eastern point at a fiat fare. Scalpers are
sometimes responsible for these stories. as
Of course they sell straight tickets without
any rebate. You can say that the rail-
road agents in Seattle are adhering strict
ly TO the agreement. There is no cutting
or shaving under the already low rates
THE Eastern lines connecting with the
transcontnental roads are bearing their
share Of the burden OF this fight" he con-
tinued. Il see 1t stated frequently that
they are not. You can depend upon 1t. no
Eastern connection Of ours would demand
full fares to points reached by them. OF
course have no idea how the loss is pro-
portioned This could only be found out
in the offices OF the auditors of the var-
Gus roads. Why, in some cases, should the
Eastern lines exact full fare. it would nat
urally absorb all we get out of u ticket,
leaving TO carry the passenger from
the Sound to the Missouri river or CHI
cago for nothing. The Eastern ines have
shown no desire to hamper the transcon-
tinental roads IN this fashion. They know
that we are bearing the brunt OF the con-
test with the Canadian Pacific railway,
and they are doing their share to sustain
the war
Some Funny Incidents.
Amusing incidents are OF daily occur
renee IN the general offices OF the city,
due to the present conditions. Two women
lately purchased from one of the general
agents two tickets 10 Kansas City. The
next day they came in and Indignantly
demanded that the agent return them 81
each.
Gignation. that man over there ipoint.ng
across Pioneer place. offered to sell us
those tickets for Sc. and you have charged
us S2S!'
The agent Immediately went TO the
phone and called up his competitor indi-
Gated by the woman. Back came denial
OF the story that he had offered to shade
the tickets 81. The women were directed
TO go TO the office OF the other line. They
did 81. 10 find that they were mistaken.
and that in fact they had purchased their
tickets in an adjacent scaiper's shop. @
The agent who had been accused OF
shading the rate asked the women 20 go
10 his rival and tell him where they
bought their tickets and thus exonerate
him.
We wouldn't so back there for the
price OF tie tickets" said they, and the
agent had 10 DO his '+souaring'' himself
The incident was declared ended IN a con-
venIent dispensary OF liquid encourage
ment.