The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-01
TRY FREEZE OUT.
Railroads Talk of a Combine
Against Rock Island
To Check Low Rates on Colo
RADIO Excursions.
HAS NOTHING TO FEAR.
Rock Island Officials Say 1t
Can't Be Done.
VIII Extend Low Rates to
Cover the Whole Summer.
HAS NOTHING TO FEAR.

The Denver Republican under a re-
cent date prints a story to the erect
that a combination will possibly be
made by several of the transcontinental
lines which may do away with the low
tourist rate to Colorado which has been
IN force this summer and last and
which was inaugurated by the ROCK
Island railroad.
It is set forth that if the Burlington,
Union Pacific, Missouri Pacific ana
other lines between Chicago and St
Louis and Colorado points can agree
they will unite against the Rock Island
In an endeavor to abolish the low tour
list rate put in effect by that road. both
last year and this.
The plan says the Republican, is
to simply refuse to make the low rate
set by the Rock Island. All the roads
running into Denver together are al
most unable to handle the passengers
who take advantage of the cheap rate,
80 ;te coronatitors fislIre that with the
enormous amount of travel Whlch
would be thrown to the Rock Island py
the refusal of the competing ROADS 70
cut rates would force the Roek 4slanu
to ask for a rate which would be agree
able to all the Denver roads
The Rock Island announced last sum
mer that it would charge go Tor ne
round trip 20 Denver from ST. LOUIS
and Chicago, irrespective OF the actlon
of other lines. Last year the sanction
of the other lines was not gwen al al
until the road announced That IL Would
run the trains at that rate anyway. An
EFFORT was made to have the cheapest
rate this summer no better tnan one
fare for the round trip, but the ROCK
island Insisted on making the SIS rate
effective on certain dates, and TINS It's
competitors finally agreed TO-
THE proposition looks somewhat
foolish" said a. Denver railroad ofnclal
yesterday and yet if it works 1t means
much to the other roads Sixty thou
sand people viii so to and from Colo
could not handle all of these or one
third of them If it ran all its equip
nent just between Chicago or St Louis
people for the other roads
1.-The Rock Island for their 10000
would get $500 000 The other roads Tor
their 40 900 would get, say $50 apiece, or
81 zoe OOO and would not have to work
nearly as hard to get them OF course
I know that il does not take a great
deal more money to haul five cars than
1t does three and that up to certain
extent the Rock Island would be having
much the best of it, but beyond that
and il would be bound to be beyond
that-the Rock Island would have to
seek peace with the other systems |
This plan was discussed when the road
announced that it would continue its
lew rates to Colorado again this sum-
mer, but was not then thought feasible l
Since the tourist travel this season is |
double that of last year 1t now seems |
likely that the Rock Islands COMPETE |
tors might Try it
A local Rock Island official IN dis |
cussing this situation yesterday said |
that the Rock Island people would be |
not at all alarmed should the other |
roads combine on the regular fare for |
Colorado travel He argued That |
should such action be taken. the only |
result would be that the Rock Island |
would announce low fare for every |
day during the month of July and 10 or |
fifteen days in August with a return /
limit until late in the fall. This would /
scatter the travel Of the estimated So
COO people who went to Colorado over a |
larger period of time, and thus enable I
the Rock Island to handle the complete /
business without in the least inconven- |
fencing the road
The argument that SIS for the round
trip between Chicago and Denver is too /
low" said this same official. is ali /
boSh. in the light of the fact that these |
same roads are carrying Epworth /
League tourists to San Francisco for |
$45 from Chicago.
If s45 for the round trip from Chi
cago to San Francisco. which has to be /
divided with connecting lines or lines
OF the southern and northern routes is 4
profitable business" continued this /
same official, then $25 for the round |
trip between Chicago and Denver is a |
bonanza
The total Epworth League business
viii probably not exceed 10000 passen-
gers To haul them from Chicago to |
San Francisco Is over twice the dis |
rance than from Chicago to Denver. and
the maui west OF Denver is the hardest /
part Of the trip. People who 20 To San
Francisco will Invariably want to % /
west over one route and back over an
other and in this manner the fares are
four roads
Figuring that there are a. total of
4o'oVo Epworth Leaguers who take sd-
vantage of the s45 rate a sum total IF
s49o,goo n fares are realized. to be d.
Nlded between the roads In the casa
OF our Colorado business, if We hant 30
e9V people at SIS each our business
amounts to about $500. 600. ANY one can
see that the $25 rate to and from Col
oIsoo from Chicago is a money max