The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-14
ROUND TRIP RATE TO
CHICAGO is CUT BY
WISCONSIN CENTRAL
Rate of So Is Made i'm Connec.
ton With Travel to the Con-
vention of Eagles = 1t Is
Likely That the Other Roads
Will Meet the Cut.

A sensational cut in Twin City rates,
greater than has been witnessed for
several years, is expected late this
month on account of the convention of
the Fraternal Order of Eagles in New
York city. The Wisconsin Central,
which will haul the official train from
the Twin Cities to Chicago Aug. 81,
mas made rate of So for the round
trip, or less than half a cent a mile.
Notice of this rate has been given the
western Passenger association, and
other roads are likely to follow suit, or
perhaps make even a lower rate.
The rate agreed upon by the associa-
lions for the Eagles convention was a
fare and third. and on this basis
the Omaha apparently had the bust
ness. Arrangements for a special
tram were made to run from the Twin
Cities to Chicago, via Omaha. and
thence to Chicago via the Wabash and
west Shore. Arrangements were also
made with the Great Northern for
carrying Northwestern delegates to the
Twin cities to take the special train,
Ihe circular announcing this ar
rangement was in type when the order
came not to print it, and the next thing
the other lines intending to handle the
business knew, it was announced the
maui from the Twin Cities to Chicago
would be via the Wisconsin Central.
Evidently the Wisconsin Central made
a rate which the stronger lines did not
desire to make, lest they should Law
themselves open to a charge of vioIat-
ing the association agreement and
making ruinously low rate to secure
some excursion business, when thew al
ready had the lions share of the reg
ular business.
1t was an alleged instance of this
kind on the part of the Milwaukee
that lead the Wisconsin Central to put
in the So rate to Chicago At any rate
the stronger lines did not meet the
Wisconsin Central rate. and gave it out
| that they did not desire the business
| except at regular rates.
1t is understood that the lines secur-
| ing the business in other than Twin
| City Chicago territory will charge the
| authorized rate of fare and a third.
which will make the round trip from
the Twin Cities to New York $29, the
| lowest it has been this year. via the
Niagara frontier, and the lowest rate
made by any route except via Mont
real.
AS the rate made by the Wisconsin
Central is less than the authorized
rate, through tickets from the Twin
Cities to New York cannot be sold.
and there will have to be a separate
round-trip ticket from the. Twin Cit
les to Chicago sold for So, and another
ticket from Chicago to New York sold
at the authorized rate of a fare and a
| third.
1t is reported that to avoid the rush
at Chicago, the Wabash is likely to
place these tickets on sale in ST. Paul.
The Wabash can scarcely afford to
discriminate, and the Chicago New
York tickets will have to be furnished
at the ticket offices of all Twin City
Chicago railroads.
For Chicago or Eastern traffic. other
than Eagles desiring to go by the Off
clal train. any road desiring to meet
the round-trip rate of So to Chicago
VIII thus be enabled to compete for
the business on equal terms with the
Wisconsin Central. That the other
Chicago lines will allow this one road
to secure all the business that such
low rate in effect for few days will
create, is not considered likely by st,
Paul traffic men,
This is but the first of a series of
clashes as to rates that were expected
to occure when the fall traffic began
to move. AS the general trend of the
| fall traffic is southwark and eastward.
| 1T naturally makes the Twin Cities the
seat of war, and some active hustling
for business, with frequent cutting of
rates is not unlikely.