The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-19

Beginning July ! passenger fares on
both the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern will be cents per mile instead
OF 4 cents the maximum rate on which
local fares were based in this state. In
confirmation OF the special dispatch In
yesterdays Post-Intelligencer. General
Agents Nadeau and Stevens, of the two
transcontlnental roads, received advices
TO this effect yesterday.
The reduction which Is the most
sweeping ever made In Washington, is
significant of this states growing i'm
portance and practically places residents
along what are commonly termed mount
ain lines on the same basis as the resi-
dents OF the more thickly settled prairie
states OF the East. At the present time
the maximum mileage rate in Washing
ton IL cents. TO many points. remote
from Seattle the fare charged now does
not figure so great rate per mile, but
on short hauls II Is generally maintained.
The reduction is not only effective on
the main line. but also on all the short
line feeders to the transcontinental roads
where competition has TO be met. For
instance. the present one way fare to
Spokane is $3.50 and the round trip $3.50.
Under the new tariff. while II has not
yet been figured out, IT Will, approM-
mateIy, be 5000 one way, with the re-
turn price $3.50.
The Great Northern, on its Coast line
Is at present basing its rates on the T.
cent maximum The one-way fare TO
Whatcom now Is 50. Under the new
ARRANGEMENT the round trip fare will be
$3.50 The Northern Pacific also reduces
It's short haul locals proportionately. On
THIS line Il is expected the reduction VIII
extend to Portland. The fare now TO
Tacoma is IS cents for a forty-one-mie
ride. As this Is less ut the present time
than the incoming Scent rate, IL Will
not he affected. Portland. however, Will
take a rate at least dollar less than at
the present time.
In great majority of the Eastern
states. except those where the passenger
tarif Is established by legislative act, the
maximum rate has beer for many years
8 cents, with long haul rates figured con-
siderably below this mark With the
completion Of the first line OF railway
In the Northwest the country was but
thinly settled. The cost of construction
and operati IN over the mountains was
greater than I'm the Eastern prairie
states. and rates were forced up accord
ingy. Although IN certain districts 10
cents mile was charged the roads did
not pay. and had 1t not been for earnings
in territory further East 1t would have
been impossible 70 have kept the lineS
travelling and but little freight shipped
either East or West. The first redue-
tion began In the Eastern states, and
more particularly In Minnesota, until
four years ago. when there was a suf-
ficiently large settlement In all the
Northwestern states to justify scent
rate being established.
a reduction 20 cents which was soon
followed by it's competitor, the Great
Northern. Then followed heavier inn
migration 10 the Northwest. More farm
ers came IN and freight shipments began
to climb IN, as also did passenger travel
Then the Great Northern took the Initial
tive, and eight months ago reduced the
rate In North Dakota to cents per mile.
The Northern PaclG followed in turn,
and from that moment. Il is said, both
freight and passenger business began to
increase.
So II has been until the reduction In
tariff has extended westward and the
present announcement reaches the Coast
"Ar vet we have not received tariff"
said General Agent Nadeau, OF the North
ern Pacific yesterday, and so do not
know exactly what the local tariff Will
be other than that they will be based on
ness In this state f. the only cause that
can be given for the reduction. During
the past year we have received a large
number Of settlers in Washington. Be
been started, and both passenger and
freight business has been very large.
The population here now warrants the
Introduction Of q low passenger rate that
a short time ago could not have been
maintained. In other words. Il demon
strates the growing importance OF Wash
irgton and the progress that Is being
made In settling Il up and building up
new Industries and enterprises"
General Western Agent Stevens was
absent from the city yesterday, hut ut
his office II was given out that tho roduC-
tlon had been made because there was
rant H. u IL expected that the new
tariffs Will be out and in the hands OF
local agents by June /.
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