The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-01
MILL THERE Be A RATE WAR!
NEWSPAPERS DIVIDED on EFFECT
OF HOMEsEEkERs' RATES.
of Cat for E4cursionists-Msy De-
moralixe All Rates West of Mis-


OF the probable effect Of the Great North
ern's and Northern Paciac's special home
seekers rates from 81 Paul 20 Puget
sound have been found in various papers
that make somewhat Of speciality OF
railroad news:
The Omaha Bee says:
Extending the limits Of the homessekers'
excursions BY the Northern Pacific and
the Great Northern roads IL not causing
any anxiety 10 the passenger officials OF
the roads cenIertng Ii Omaha The extern
sion VIII be met by these roads In time
for the next excursion March l, and there
Will probably be no effort In the future 20
restrict the field TO the original limits. II
IL nos anticipated that any rate war will
follow, unless the northern lines. again
dissatisfied with their share Of this bust
ness. seek 10 increase L by making lower
rate, which Is considered not likely.
By including Pacific coast points with
In the operation of the hCmeseeksrs' ex-
cursions the northern roads have really
done what the southern lines would have
them DO. IL Is concession the latter
would have been pleased to make could IL
have been done without danger of disor-
gariizing the traffic. but now that the ex-
tension has come from other quarters IL
Will be gladly met and the new order OF
things made permanent
Just What They Want.
1T is Just what We want" said an Oma-
ma passenger man. 'Nftere has never been
Il more favorab bic year for bringing home
seekers from the East 10 the agricultural,
graz ng nd mining lands of the West and
the roads In this part Of the country well
come the opportunity they will now have
TO contribute TO the further settlement of
this section. When man can go 10 Flor
ida and buy an orange grove, paying for
his transportation al the rate OF SIS for
the round trip from Chicago. and when he
can 10 to Texas and other Southern points
and buy cotton lands at about the same
rate, there is no good reason why he
should not also be privileged 10 gn to the
far Yves; and seek a home there.
Some roads express fear that the ex-
tension OF these excursions Will Increase
the field of operation by the scalpers, but
that IS all bosh By the use Of the Sebas-
tan ticket the work OF the scalper can be
held down 10 "a minimum Out of our
heavy business in this line last year the
number Of tickets which passed into the
hands Of the scaipers was infintesilnaily
der the new order. We will meet the ex-
tension made by the northern roads In
time Tor our next excursion. and VIII do
what we can to bring the renters from the
Eastern states out 10 the plains of the
West, where they can buy a home OF their
at a small figure
There isn't a state west Of the Missouri
river which cannot accommodate thou
sands of hmm grants. II VIII take several
years OF active work before even the
states adjoining the river can be said To
be fully settled. Then. why shouldn't the
railroads make a low rate 10 homeseekers
and get them out herer II they do not
desire to locate In Nebraska or Colorado
let them go 10 the states farther west. II
country and will Indirectly benefit thS
state. we'll as all the railroads dong
business in this section OF the country"
subject Widely Discussed.
The Salt Lake Herald says:
The subject most widely discussed
among railway men today is the proba-
biiity OF a serious disruption OF the pres
ent ainicaole terms between all lines COM
peting for the business OF the Pacific
coast.
II is feared that passenger rate war
Will be the result of the homeseekers'
excursions in March April and May.
The Northern Pacific and the Great
Northern have taken 1t upon themselves
TO establish lower rate for homeseekers
than has ever before been given. These
roads propose to sell their tickets at one
as far west as the Pacific coast. The rate
becomes effective for excursions on March
and !. From this II is apparent that
the two roads named have taken the tni-
tiative in breaking the strict maintenance
or tariff rates on passenger business this
winter, and the consequences are likely
To be far-reaching.
At the same time the northern lines
are Offering reasons for their dangerous
step. 1t seems that the agreement under
which these excui sions are conducted
to Minnesota, the Dakotas. Nebraska.
Kansas and as far west as Idaho In
this. they claim. there has been an at
tempt To cut out territory along their
iiues In favor Of Utah Colorado and other
Western states II is to meet and coun-
ierac' this alleged discrimination that the
Northern Pacific and Great Northern
have made their rates apply 10 Montana
Oregon and Washington points
Is these localities are also reached hy
Southern lines. the Union Pacific Burling-
ton and others have announced that they
will not stand quietly aside and So, com
peting lines make lower rate than their
tarir provides. but viii. unless the
Northern lines withdraw, meet TIE rate
on coming excursions.
The oregon Short Line. Denver & Rio
Gsrarde and RI Graude Western efIi
Doubtless follow whatever policy 81 at3o,,t-
ed by the linton Pacific in s.vaIlnx with
the "tFuant reads IN the North All
agree mat tNeir interests In the North
west are Of toe great import 9rcs n risk
losing any traffic by the liiegttamate ac-
tioa OF any competing line. \ rate war
~ no small import Is likely IN he pre-
cinitafSst unless matters re satisfactorily
adjusted within a short time.
Asked to stop Ex~ur>ions
IN the s.. raui Pioneer Press Ia the fol-
loving
A meeting Was held in Chicago yes,er-
3ay Nv the general passenger agents of
purpose If taking action on the recent tx.
cursion rate made Ia the Pacific coast
~ the Great Northern and Northern Pa
ciac. ard a committee was appointed To
confer with the officials q. these roads
and ask them - stop these excursions. 1t
Is feared that these rates VIII disorganizs
the passenger traffic, and taat the Union
and Southern Pacific roads may be forced
To meet tire Northern lines Under the
rules OF the association. IL appears that
Il IS ,,errrrtS<thle 10 make Ao-neseeksrSf sx-
enrSion rates 10 points In the Mort invest:
bat not Ia the Pacific coast petnoraliza-
ttas1 % al rates wesf % tie Missouri ts
expected - follow the sale of tickets 20
the Coast via the three Northwestern
lines ard Eastern roads sppfshend that
the cut NAV extend To them In the course
az goranetltten for business. tn. conn.,
rl,ittes Ia expected IN So Paul ternorrow
a. enaeaVor 10 induce the withdrawal Of
the excursion tickets from sale,
Al the general cstic@S es tire Great
Northern and Northern Pacific IL was
gass that they would PROBABLY continue 80
sell tickets as advertised rs tae other
rnsts seldom consulted them when they
rY,ass <rvCtAt rates TIE fTVahle With the
Central ard Southern Pacific lines appears
~ -, that shey are afraid thst The traffic
wfa 80 t. the Northern Hnes ard they
will haze ~ Fseet the rates ta oryier 70
hold ths business &ni fHts. they explain.