The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-14
Railroads Getting Ready for Rush
Of Business.
OUTLOOK FOR SPECIAL RATES.
Attendants at state Meetings to Get
Round Trip Fares for Fare and
= Fifth-Bapttst Anniversaries q
hone of Contention, and May
W. G. r. T.. Rates Not settled.

The railroads are beginning preparations
10 handle the people thar are expected 10
attend the dozen conventions 20 be held
In seattle and other pants of the West
sEais spring and summer. and there pToba-
bly, wiH Se more excursion rates pu, on.
tam has been the case in any recent year.
Next following the convention OF the
Ancient Order u United Wsrxmen now
In session IN Tacoma. will be tile state
convention Of knights os the Naccabees,
TO be held in Seattle April as All state
lines viii sell round trip tickets for this
event at one and q fifth fares for the
round trip The Hoo Hoes, 10 convene at
Snonomish. April =, will be the next state
confederation, and following that event
VIII be the anniversary celebrations OF
the various Raptis. societies ali over the
coast TO be held during the week be-
ginning May ~
This calls for transcontinental business,
and IL Is probable that the northern lines
Will sell round trip tickets for So. or
even lower. IL was the original intention
OF all roads 20 charge uniform rate Of
81. and the Omaha meeting OF passenger
men adjourned with that understanding.
but now the northern lines are 10 offer
tickets for IS less which diSrup,s the en-
tire arrangement. Ii is believed that the
California roads Will meet this with a
similar rate TO San Francisco from Mis-
souri, river paints. IN which case il is
likely that their northern competitors Will
go still lower. The outlook for people
who intend TO visit the West en- these
occasions is exceedingly bright for low
transportation. They may be abLa to get
round trip tickets for as lcw as $40. If the
roads get into a war over the meetings.
Grand Army Men.
From June 20 to - the Grand Army men
OF the state viii assemble In Seattle, and
from June y to 3 the state members OF
the Young Peoples Society of Christian
Endeavor viii rally here. 1t is doubtless
true that round trip rates OF a fare and
fifth will be offered for both events.
The grand lodge OF Nfasons. the Knights
or Pythas and the Eagles will also meet
here this summer although the dates are
not yet known There Is some talk Of the
Eagles going to Everett for their meet
Ing. All three conventions will probably
be aided by the prevailing convention fare
of one and fifth.
From raiiroad poin. of view. probably
the greatest interest centers around the
convention of the National Educational
Association, to be held in Los Angeles
July Il TO Il. There have already been a
dozen meetings OF transcontnenral pas.
senger men 10 decide upon rates for this
meeting. but nothing definite seems to
have been resolved on yet The trouble is
that the Southern Pacific will not reduce
its dinerential and allow other roads an
opportunity of getting business. rs inten-
ton IS to, II possible, shut out all this
northern country from getting any of the
traffic, and even TO force people to re-
turn 10 the East without making a visit
to Portland, Tacoma and Seattle.
The executive board of the association
has more than once tried TO get definite
quotations as To what the rate viii be.
bur has thus far met with no success II
Is said however, that some OF the lines
have determined upon an independent pol
Icy regarding this meeting, and that they
VIII offer rates at least as low as one
fare for the round trip. If the northern
roads are to make a strong bid for this
Western business, as seems probable, they
will make Inducements for the visitors to
return home by this route even II a com.
bnation should be necessary 10 prevent
the Southern Pacific getting all the bust
ness. The Indications are that there win
b. fierce contest.
The ". c. II. L.
The convention OF Endeavorers IN San
Francisco. TWO years ago. was sich a pro-
nounced success. mare than - 900 people
taking that occasion az seeing the West
that all roads more than usually in
tsrestea in the promise OF another great
rush. II WIFI not be long before definite
announcement comes from some road and
.hen there will lie 81 scramble
II is YET too early fer there 10 be much
interest in the national meeting az the
(. Women'a Christian Temperance Union 10
! be held IN Seattle October - to g. al.
though II is announced that the Canadian
Pacific Will probably take the Initiative
in offering a round trip rate q a single
fare Although this Is properly northern
roads affair II Will he 4 good opportunt-
~ fer the southern Pacific 80 retaliate
fer airy trouble II may he caused about
the meeting Of educators That rad runs
as far rorth as Portland, and. therefore,
feeis that part OF the haafness IS properly
It's own. Every road this side Of the MIS-
souri river VIII be concerned IN the tenn
ers of tbe trarsconsinental lines that come
directly IN Seattle.
II Will te the first opportunity 20 .es.
the actual drawing powers OF Seattle from
a national point 81 view. ana Il IN there
FORE daubtfui what ~ expect from me
railroads Some saAguine enthusiasts are
OF the opinion thg. even the gathering
81 Erdeavorers IN the Golden Gate clfv
sas not greater than this will be, ana
even IN" conservative element estimates
thu attendance at fror. 1909 IN sos.
! TIKI. means that probably s',esocoo will ~
expended for railroad tickets u say moth
ing - the side money that viii go -
other things along the route. This is tne
hsEgeSf plum that has eyer fallen % the
lot os the northern transcontlnentaI naes.