The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-07
RAILROAD NEWS.
A TranscOntinentaI Passenger
Rate War is On.
Promises to Be One of the
Fiercest in History.
ALL ROADS INVOLVED.
Santa Fe and Rock Island Are
Strictly "In It."
Meeting of Passenger Officials
Called in Chicago.
Ill ROADS INVOLVED.

Chicago, Dec. IA passenger rate war
has begun and threatens to become the
greatest ever known. Already all the lines
forming direct routes from New England
to California are involved. From present
indications the war will be between the
Vanderbilt and Pennsylvania systems,
and the Northwestern, Rock Island, Bur
lington and st. Paul roads on one side
and all the different lines between Chica-
go and the Atlantic coast, with the South
ern Pacific, Santa F'e and Illinois Central
roads on the other side.
So far only rates on traffic to California
are seriously affected but signs of demOr-
traffic. The present trouble grows direct
" out of the old controversy of eastern
or may not be true that the president Of
one of the strongest lines in the Wander
instituted in New England territory, to
abolish all differentiaI passenger rates;
second class tickets from Boston to San
Francisco were sold via the Boston and
Albany road of the Vanderbilt system and
its connections at the same rate as was
made via the dinerentiaI lines OF New
England and their connections. This led
to secret rate cutting and the payment
of excessive commissions by both sides
until today second class tickets from BOS-
abont SO less t6a1 the regui3r second
class rate from Chicago to San Francisco.
The differential lines of New Engl@nd
Iington, Rock Island, Northwestern and
California trafffc to the Santa Fe and
Southern Pacific, except a limited amount
of excursion business given to the Alton
and Missouri Pacific roads. The Wander
bilt line the Boston and Albany, gives all
its California business to the Rock Island,
Northwestern, st. Paul and Burlington
roads.
In addition to being dragged into the
differential fight of the eastern roads, the
Burlington, Rock Island, st. Paul and
Northwestern roads, and their connec-
tiOnS, have a grievance of their own
against the Santa Fe and Southern Pa
cific claiming that those two roads form
ed a pool for the purpose of controlling
California traffic. 1t is also limited that
the Illinois Central has recently been
admitted to the pool of the Santa Fe and
Southern Pacific. Evidence has been Sc
cured that tickets from Chicago to San
Francisco and return have been sold via
the Illinois Central to New Orleans and
thence via the Southern Pacific to San
Francisco. and the return passage to be
made in the spring via the Illinois Central
road from Omaha to Chicago.
The Southern Pacific and Santa Fe
railways have agreed to call a
meeting of passenger officials to
all transcontinen-al lines to consider the
California rate war It will be held in
sible. A party of three secured tickets
new rate of $40 for second class, which is
S12 so below tariff. A rate of S14 first class
from St. Paul to New York is being made
by the Sioux City and Northern and Ca
madam Pacific. This probably will be met
by the Chicago and Northwestern and
Grand Trunk. which will take other lines
into the trouble.