Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-14
NEW MILEAGE PLAN LIKELY
Transmissouri Lines VIII Probably Adop
interchangeable systsm.
CENTRAL BUREAU TO Be LOCATED HERE
Local Omces of the wabash VIII he
Moved Int the Corner Room
of Board of Trade
Building.

II the efforts OF General Passenger Agents
John Francis, e. l.. Lomax and J. r. Bu-
chansn Of Omaha are successful at a meet
ing OF high ~of1cials of all the railroads OF
the T~ransmissour district in Kansas City
next Friday there will be established in
Omaha before July 1 a bureau to handle in
Interchangeable mileage on these lines, with
extensive oflces, a commissioner and a force
Of twenty men.
On hat date, May 16, these three men,
together with Passenger Traffic Manager
G. T. Nicholson OF the Atchison, Topeka q
Santa Fe railroad, will present to the
Transmissouri lines the results Of a years
work by them as a committee on this inter
changeable mileage scheme, and the loca-
tlon of the headquarters for such a business
In Omaha will be consequent upon the &C
ceptance Of their scheme.
The territory included In this transmits
souri, district is far more extensive than
the. name implies. 1t embraces all within
a line stretching from Billings, Mont. to
the Missouri river, along the Missouri to
the Mississippi, down the Mississippi to
the gulf, thence to the west line of Texas,
thence north to the Colorado line and
Pueblo and Denver; then to Cheyenne, and
finally to Billings again.
Francis Explains Plan.
"our plan" said Mr.. Francis, "is to have
interchangeable script books. These rep
resent money. You buy a book contain
ing, say, $50 worth Of script, and you pay
$50 cash for It. Then you can walk UP to
any ticket ONCE in the district and buy a
ticket with this script. just as II It were
coin OF the realm, whether you wish to go
three miles or three hundred.
THE interchangeable plan has been In
effect east Of us. between the river and
Chicago, for several years, though they
have a different method there. It has
Just been adopted by the transcontinental
lines, they having established a bureau COW
ering the territory from FL Paso west and
Colorado common points. 1t is time for
us to get at It.
This interchangeable mileage does not
reduce the rate per mile any, but 1t does
save money and trouble In another way.
Where now a traveller must carry about
ten mileage books, he will need only one,
and he will lever have any left over,
wasted and unused, for 1t is always good
on any road. When his book is empty Of
script he sends It into headquarters and
receives a check for his rebate, whatever
the amount may be-"
wabash Omces to Move.
About June 1 the local Offices Of the
Wabash railroad will be moved into the
first floor corner front OF the Board OF
Trade building, the identity of the future
tenants OF which has been a matter Of gem
eral discussion and perplexity in railroad
and business circles for some weeks. Gen
eral Passenger Agent c. g. Crane Of the
Wabash came to Omaha from st. Louis and
contaminated the deal. He signed a Ave
years lease at what Wabash officials say
is a very just figure.
General Agent Moores Is elated at the
move. This change is most timely" said
he. simultaneously with lettering our
quarters here we will complete the improve
ment Of the trackage to Omaha, which has
been progressing many months. The swell
new train, with the latest modern equip.
ment just from the shops from end to end,
Will also be put on the run about that
date. ,
"All we want now Is to have the very
finest railroad ONCE in Omaha, and wen
have It. The fixtures throughout, ticket
racks, counters, desks, ratings and every
thing, will be Of solid mahogany, and every
thing will have a marble base. The floor
Will be OF an elaborate pattern of thing
and lights, mural decorations, windows,
furniture and all will be OF the richest de-
sign and finish.
There has been a sentiment among the
railroad men here against getting away
from the railway ofice center. We do not
feel that way. We are glad to get up on
the hill and feel that we are at the real
business center. The contemplated erection
OF a big business building at Sixteenth and
Harvey streets on the present site of
Kountze Memorial church will add still
more to the aspect Of that ~neighborhood
as the vital center"