New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-03
REDUCED RATES SECURED.
CONCESSIONS TO MECHANIS
TON BY TRUNK LINES AND PAS
SENGER BUREAUS

commences in the latter part OF Ja"uais' i'
the Mississippi Valley and the Middle West mer
chants hegtn n come into this city from the first
part Of February throughout that month ana INTO
March. From points they continue com
ing through March and until the cary part VI
April when the buying season from those respeo-
tive territories may be said TO be over ne "ei
chants Association made up series OF dates 10
nt these different sections and made application
10 thu railroads in those sections for the reduced
rates.
What is known the Southwestern passenger
Bureau or Association includes the territory west
OF the Mississippi River and southwest OF d.
Louis The Central Passenger Association takes
in all the territory OF the Mississippi River
north OF the Ohio River, and running as far
east as an imaginary line drawn through Bunao'
Pittsburg and Wheeling. w Va. The trunk
lines take in all the territory east OF the ias'
named points as far the border line OF the
New England States. and extending as lar south
as Washington and Baltimore
Last Autumn the Merchants Association made
application 10 the officials Of the trunk lines mere
for legislation by the roads In that association
on what their policy would be In granting reduced
rates in favor OF NewYork for 1899 Ihey eN-
planned TO the officers OF the roads that thes de-
sired to know this that they might ascertain
Just how they stood because the granting OF these
reduced rates was very important feature In
attracting trade to this city These officers OF
the trunk lines voted TO grant, in favor OF the
Merchants Association and Of New-fork 'lty.
concessions on the same basis las the concessions
granted In 1895. Later this matter was taken mp
by the lines Of the Central Passenger Association
and somewhat similar legislation was had.
Last month the Merchants Association selected
series of dates covering these territories. trying
to fix those dates being ones which would ne
most convenient to the merchants. From the south
western Passenger Association they asked Tor dates
from January q to 30 and February 10 to a. both
inclusive. with a return limit OF thirty Gays from
date of sale From the Central Passenger Asso-
ciaion they asked for dates February 10 to Il and
March to T. both inclusive. with the return limit
OF thirty days from date Of sale. From the trunk
lines they asked for dates March 16 TO q and April
to C. both inclusive. with return limit OF hfteen
days from date of sale.
The trunk lines at once acted on the application
favorably In the Central Passenger territory,
however 1t was necessary for further legislation.
because action from the southwestern Association
would not avail anything unless the lines in the
Central Passenger Association. with which they
connected. willing to cooperate In dates
asked for from the Southwest. one set Of which
was earlier than any set Of dates In either the
Central Passenger Trunk Line territory. After
a vote had been taken By the Central Passenger
Association 1t was announced by wire 10 the Mer-
chants Association that that vote was favorable,
and upon this action being communicated TO the
chairman Of the Southwest Passenger Bureau.
territory had granted the application Of the Mer-
chants Association exactly as asked for This.
therefore. will allow merchants In Texas 10 start
from their homes in the later part of January and
direct through the Central Passenger territory
and Trunk Line territory 10 New-York At the
same time the Merchants Association made appli-
cation to the Western Passenger Association which
has Jurisdiction the territory west OF the MIS-
sissipp River and northwest of ST. Louis. These
dates were the same asked for from the South
ha.tn bon
them.
An application was also made to the chairman OF
the Southeastern Passenger Association. which as
ISOLATION has jurisdiction over the territory east Of
the Mississippi River and south Of the Ohio River.
No word has been received from that section yet
In addition the Merchants Association asked the
lines In the Southwestern Association 10 permit the
Texas lines which connect with its territory via
New-Orleans to handle their tickets the re
duced-rate basis through Southwestern territory
direct 10 New York.
This the Southeastern Association declined TO
allow last year, but efforts being made on the
ground that this being interstate traffic the South
eastern Association cannot shut out merchants
from the Southwest from participating in
those concessions. Unless they can connect
via New-Oreans they cannot reach New
York except by an indirect way. Application
in due will be made to the New-Ensland Pas
senger Association for reduced rates frcn all Of
that territory to New-York Heretofore app-
cations made to the last-named association on
behalf of New-York City have been denied. The
roads controlling the southern part OF the New
England territory. and thereby controlling the en-
This" said an officer OF the Merchants Asso-
citation. is very gratifying 10 US and will. We be-
ieye DE very gratifying 10 all merchants In this
city well TO our nonresident members
throughout the entire country.
This is the first time since the Merchants Asso-
citation has been established that We have been
able 10 have any roads west OF the Mississippi
In Sofi fhVtr- -rn az a thor
territory. cooperate with all the other lines on
ea d4 rates oHq aT E for ore W Se one fare and
third for the round trb: From iar away way; terri
ern we have arranged for thirty-day return limit
This will give merchants from those far off points
time 10 to this market and thoroughly in
spect what have here. Last year for the first
time we got some concessions from the South
western territory, but they 1xed the return limit
AT fifteen days. This not sufficient to enable
merchants from Texas points TO get here and in
return home within that period OF time
Many OF the merchants overstayed their time,
and therefore could not take advantage of the
duced rate the way home. and this time APP
pealed 10 the southwestern Bureau Tor return
limit OF thirty days. so that merchants would not
be hurried. We are happy TO say they were con-
WINGED by our arguments in behalf OF New-York.
and thai they have allowed the return limit
asked for We have asked FOR the return
limit from the Western Passenger Association and
We also have a thirty-da limit from the Cen
Trunk Line territory As the Trunk Line territory
takes in only points which are comparatively near
fifteen DAYS il ample Time. Last year, both In the
sprlng and fall buying seasons the Southeastern
Associa ton declined 10 grant US rates at all
They even refused to allow the Southern Pacific
COMPANY and the Texas Pacific Company. both
OF which connect with the Southern roads at New
Orleans 10 sell tickets through their territory TO
New-York although the officers OF these two roads
made application direct TO the Southeastern ter
ritory for the privilege of doing this with the
roads with which they naturally interchange trafic
This arbitrary action the part OF the South
eastern Association practically shut from par
ticlpaton IN the reduced rates merchants living
upon the lines OF those two roads except by way OF
ST Louis there being no way OF getting connec-
tions 10 New York except In roundabout way
via s., Louis and indianapolis Cincinnati
"The Southeastern Passenger Association are 10
meet this month. and We hope that they Will-even
Il they do not grant reduced from ali their
territory-allow the roads from the Southwest
which connect With their lines az NeW-Orleans ~
sell through their territory. This IS Interstate
traffic. and ought not 10 be interfered with. We
have about 800 nonresident members In the
Southern TERRITORY and az OF these are anxious
10 obtain reduced rates for New-York as they
claim that they are granted concessions which