The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-27
Soo-Pacific Made Threats But
Did Not Go Any Farther.
THE MINIMUM FARES A MYTH.
Developments In the Railroad War
SlOw-Storms Have Been Largely
RespOns ible for Failure OF Roads
TO Do . Rushing Business Under
of March Promises In Travel.

There are no new developments IN the
railroad rate war situation unless the st.
Paul adyices OF an unofficial nature re-
ceived in this city yesterday can be said
10 have shed new light on the matter.
There Is one thing certain. and that is that
the threatened cut by the Soo-Paciac OF
the ST. Paul-Pacific coast rates 10 SD for
hrst-class and SO second-class was never
put into effect The rate when an
nounced applied only to westbound bust
ness and it was expected that the North
ern Pacific and Great Northern would
meet it. but in spite OF statement COM
ing from the traffic departments of both
roads that any rate made by the Soc
Pacific road would be met by them there
was no necessity on the part Of either TO
reduce fares lower than the prevailing
80 frst-class ana so second-class.
Ii is stated IN St. Paul correspondence
that the 500 Offices in both St. Paul and
Minneapolis were thronged on Monday
the day announced for the further cut-by
people anxious to take advantage Of The
minimum fares but the 500 people did not
make the cut effective, undoubtedly wait
ing 10 see what the American roads would
do. Those who did purchase tickets TO
the coast paid the schedule first adopted
since the rate war was begun.
The travel westward has had a notice
able falling off within the past two or
three days. and 1t is ascribed by railroad
officials at the western termini as due
10 the severe winter weather of the East
Much business has been delayed on roads
between St. Paul and Chicago and east
or Chicago by heavy SHOWS, and the tele-
graphic advices at local railroad Offices
are TO the effect that westbcund trains
Into st. Paul and Minneapolis have been
anywhere from one 10 FIVE hours late. AS
Stunning the storms to be a reason for
the falling Off in travel II Is not TO be
doubted that the early days of this week
VIII witness vast amount Of passenger
business set down in Seattle
Inc roads east OF Chicago which have
had large share of the "Klondike bust
ness, as all passenger traffic for Alaska
mas come TO be generally called In the
East have also had a disagreeable taste
or blizzards and deep snow. and with this
important factor In the passenger bus
ness. sadly handicapped, the transconti-
mental roads have found II easter to han
die the progress Of the crowds westward.
In no respect Is the falling off Of travel
more noticeable than in the hotels where
IL is the exception and not the rule as
ten days ago, to turn people away. This
IL quite as much so in neighboring cities
as in Seattle. as glance at the published
hotel lists viii show
one passenger man said Yesterday tba+
Where steamer reservations have not
actually been made by deposit the bitter
weather Of the East would deter many.
from starting. When the rush was fairly
on railroad officials predicted Temporary
iallng OF In travel during the three
months following It's Inauguration. hut
named March as the time when a lIll
would be noticeable. They figured that
Inc BRIEF period In light travel would fol-
low naturally. upon the first heavy rush
westward, but they only allowed for
natural conditions and what experience
mas taught. Now the lull is IN February
que largely 10 unexpected conditions ana
recovery VIII undoubtedly be swift cor
sequently the interrupted procession vii,
begin again within the next five davs ana
continue up 10 the time Of sailing az tbe
last passenger steamers for 81 Nicbae,
March may see repetition OF the com
pafatiVely light business. particuIar1v ~
tho weather IS unsettled enough IN tho
East . interfere with railroad travel rba
looked Tor settlement Of the rate war viii
also have a beneficial effect upon fravaI
Many are at present unprepared "a take
advantage OF the extremely low rates.