The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-16

Trafflc to and from Colorado
Exceptionally Heavy.
MOVEMENT NOT LOCAL
Chicago Lines Have . Similar
Experience.
May Continue in Effect Home.
seekers Rate to Northwest.

600k0IS n8b0 W NOA ~ Oooe
1--WE had to go down to Denver from |
Colorado Springs ahead of time" re-
marked Santa Fe man who had Just |
come in from the Rockies with his fam
lily after a few days Junket at the SUM
mer resorts of that country, IN order
that we might procure seats IN the
eastbound train"
That was the suggestion of a busy |
season which the railroads Of the west
in particular are experiencing. when
the gates were raised at Denver" ne
went on. "the rush was SO great that
every one Of the seats was snapped up
down when we did we would have been
obliged to stand, for part OF the way.
at least"
There is q grand exodus now from the
there seems to be also a great number
Of people arriving there and planning to
stay for several weeks longer. The fol-
lowing report from Denver indicates
about what the situation there is:
Although 1t Is nearly the middle OF
September. there seems to be no de-
crease in east and westbound passenger
business. The Burlington has been
coming in late for a week with double
headers and with ten and twelve cars
and the afternoon train has gone out In
two sections nearly every day. The
Rock Island and Union Pacific have
also been in late from Chicago because
of unusually heavy travel. and most OF
their main trains have had two engines
and two or three extra sleepers and
chair cars. Every east or westbound
train has been crowded and sleeping
car reservations. as far as lower berths
are concerned. must be spoken for at
least a day In advance.
This westbound travel is accounted for
because Of the low rates in effect from
Chicago to Colorado and far western
points. said passenger man today
while most of the eastbound business
comes from summer tourists on their
way home. Tourists have remained in
Colorado late this season because Colo
RADIO is becoming known as a fall state.
the state. These will not go home I'M.
til the latter part of the month, and
hundreds Of them will be here until Oc-
tober.
The limit of tourist tickets has been
made October 81. SO that the tourists
know that they can stay here more than
month longer. The westbound rates
continue through September and Octo-
Der, so that suppose that there will be
no visible decrease in travel until after
October 81.
In Chicago, too, the railroads are
feeling the strength and continuity Of a
and are contemplating the. proposition
Of continuing cheap rates indefinitely
in order that prospective settlers who
continue to flock to the unsettled re-
S Vantage Of these rates lie business
handled on the excursions to that part
of the country has been exceptionally
heavy during the past season.
The movement to the northwestern
states during the spring months broke
all records of similar emigration. Tine
| fall move is said by passenger traffic
men Of the northwest to promise equal
| ~ well or to be but little below that of
] last spring and early summer. This is
| an unusual thing in passenger traffic
| as the spring movement of prospective
settlers is always far in excess of any
| thing that the immigration agents can
| bring about in the colder months of the
| autumn OF winter.
| 1t Is claimed by those who advocate
! the extension OF the time during which
| the excursion rates are to be made that
| new conditions are rapidly doing away
| with the inconvenience that formerly
| the new country. They contend that the
rapid settlement of the surrounding
territory. the easy access to the new
land afforded by the railroad lines and
thorough examination of the country
even in the cold weather have made
this a good season for settlers excur-
| sions.
There is. on the other hand. a strong
disposition on the part Of conservative
railroad men to limit the time when
these excursion rates are made to the
seasons when the country is in condi.
|
when the weather is such that ths
1and-looker will not be subjected to the
depressing effects of a climate which il
unfamiliar to him. The impression
made on the homeseeker and which de.
ponds in large part on the conditions o.
the weather often determine his settle.
ment or return to his old home.
The argument is also used that where
these homeseekers' excursions ar
spread over large portion of the veal
and for part of that period cover TIM
| when the farmer In the central and
eastern states is too busy at home witt
his crops and other farm business K
look for a new home and they ar
taken advantage of by those who hav'
to visit the new country on ordinar.
business.
They get the advantage of the low
rates and the future business of tn
lines giving this cheap rate is not bene
flied by having another farm ooene'
up with it's produce to be hauled t
market. This is supposed to be tn
source from which the railroad gets it
profit on the homeseeker. and in theor.
the cheap rate given him entails a loss
but this loss is made up from the futur
increase of business which comes wit
| the settlement Of the country