The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-10
GREAT WESTERNS
Low CHICAGO RATE
MAY REOPEN FIGHT
Stlckney Line Makes the Ep-
worth League Excursion Rate
Apply to Chicago Traffic
Other Roads Will Meet Cut.

A rate war between the Chicago-St.
Paul lines that will reduce rates to a
far lower figure than has been talked
of this summer seems imminent. The
Chicago Great Western yesterday an
nounced that it will apply the Detroit
Epworth league rate of $12.50 to Chi
cago traffic, the return tickets being
for thirty days.
Tickets at this rate will be sold July
IL to Is, inclusive, the same as to the
EpWorth league convention. 1t is the
long return limit that is likely to cause
the trouble, as it will give the Chicago
Scalpers an excellent opportunity to
sell tickets from Chicago to the Twin
Cities at less than the tariff rate and
yet make good money. If the rate were
in force for a few days only 1t would
undoubtedly be met by the other lines,
and that would be all, but to have it
effective for so long a period is not to
the liking of the officials of the other
Chicago roads.
The more conservative of traffic men
are inclined to believe that all the lines
will meet the Great Westerns rate and
apply the Detroit rate to Chicago,
which they say is the only logical out
come of the Epworth league rates, a Z
it is decidedly unbusiness like to
charge $3.50 more for round trip to
Chicago than to Detroit.
Others, however, hold that the rate
was only to be applied to through
business to Detroit, and believe that
trouble will follow. 1t was not known
last night what action would be taken
by the Wisconsin Central and the 9TH
er lines were looking for that road to
take the initiative. The Great Western
applied the rate only to Chicago, and
not as a maximum fare, to interme-
date points. 1t is feared, however,
that the Wisconsin Central will an
nounce a permanent rate of $3.50 to
Chicago and return, and make this
maximum rate for all intermediate
points.
General Passenger Agent Pond, of
the Wisconsin Central, at meeting of
the Western Passenger association in
st. Paul, before the rae was put in
effect, gave notice that he would put
in the IS rate, because the rate was
r4,u0ad to practically that figure by
the low rates to the Woodmen's con-
vehtion at Indianapolis, with a long
return limit. He also said at that time
IL lIdl IdlG WAS lOl low SHOuSI ~
keep other roads from cutting, he
would put in a still lower rate. He
ccntended that the general public
should be given the benefit of ant low
rate made which had a long return
limit. Mr.. Pond is opposed to allow
ing cheap tickets on the market where
scalpers can get hold of them and
reap a harvest.
With this knowledge of his views in
mind, some traffic officials say they
would not be surprised to see him
make a permanent rate of $3.50 for
the round trip between the Twin Cities
and Chicago. If this is done, the other
lines will have to meet it.
If the $3.50 fare for the round trip
is made a permanent rate the other
roads will take the stand that it is
time to end the Chicago Twin City
rate war, and will put in so low a
rate that all the lines will be glad to
get together and establish a profitable
rate schedule. If this is done, it would
not be surprising if the rate to Chi
cago went as low as So or 81 for few
days, then to be boosted to a figure
above So, probably about $40, for it is
generally agreed that the old tariff
rate of $11.50 will never be reinstated.