The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-13

ATSo, cock last night Chicago tourist
81 tickets tool Their third tumble since
tie beginning of the trAnsoonfnental rate
uAs. and n the hotels and on the street
a,ere being Offered BY agents Of At least
one of the hanseonfinentaI lines at f32
flat, Or = drop of IS from tie Io71est rate
that las heretofore prsbAIed.
As wAs anticipated, the arriOaI of fuo
o4taska steamers yesterday and last night
gabe 4 stimulus to the uas. No tickets
qere actually sold but contracts. It Is
stated. nere made for today At this price.
The rate $50 wAs made By city agents. or
outside men. quhich conciusfveiy sets At
rest the taik that there s'ig Be any SoAitins
for authority from headquarters.
TRANSFORMER traffic Is de-
moralixed, and railroad men agree
that settlement Of the rate war
trouble must be effected within a very
short time, or rates will be in the
same condition. Travel within the
past two days has fallen or at tremen-
dous rate. showing that the public is wait
ing In anticipation of a war that will send
rates tumblng downward. In fact, there Is
very little general travel at all. The trains
leaving the depot, instead of being filled
to their capacity with through ana locai
passengers. are carrying only commercial
men and those whose business Will not per-
nit them to delay.
minds of those directly interested at pres
ent, and also the representatives or lines
whose territory Is threatened, cut that the
war will be we'll on within a few days. The
high officials are talking but very little.
so as to leave no opportunity for Interstate
commerce laws to compromise them. As
rule they give the impression that they
do not know war is in progress. and are
maintaining tariff over their counters. The
under officials and ticket agents on the
street are doing the work. and rivalry.
equaled only by the late passenger war.
exists among them.
On Sundays, during days of peace, all
uptown ticket offices are closed. and street
men take a rest. Not so in all cases yes
terday, however. During both the fore
noon and afternoon the doors in some OF
the involved Offices stood ajar. showing
the roads ready to do business. On the
street and in the hotels, ticket agents were
doing business, and the rates prevailing
there were those at the close of business
yesterday-$3s to Chicago and Sc to st.
Paul, tourist ticket.
The statement that the various local
tiers before they proceed Is with the sin
gle exception Of the Great Northern. un-
true. All other lines have had for several
days Instructions to meet any rate the
Great Northern might put in. to secure the
business. The Great Northern. II is true,
has wired for instructions. and as the road
is the recognized leader In the fight, The
purpose is evident. Whether or not these
instructions have been received cannot be
learned but II Is a significant fact that
the statement has been made by Great
Northern employe. who is in a position TO
know what is going on, that the Northern
Pacific locals Will be attacked and blow
struck that would involve Missouri river
points. IL that line did not pull OF In the
fight.
All lines feel the Generalization of traf-
fic due TO the waiting public. and the initial
blow IN a general war may be struck at
any time With this done. the Oregon Rail-
road & Navigation Company, no matter
how averse the line may be to taking
part In the fight, and the Burlington must
come I'm or see the business secured for
their territory by the transcontinental lines
over their heads, which Is conceded to be-
hardly probable.
Outside agents have been increased, and
the brokers have come to feel the effect
At and about the depot yesterday no less
than i've ticket agents were rustling
among the prospective passengers for their
various lines. AS no orders to sell Cni-
cage below $3s had been received by them,
up to o'clock last night at the depots
this was the price being offered. Few
centage OF those about were for local
points.
should the Alaska passengers. to
any number. decide to 20 East TODAY the
war may be precipitated at once. Repre-
sentatives of all lines agree. however mat
the longer the present state continues the
greater the danger that a severe fight will
come.