Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-09
Rock Islands Competitors An
nounce Intention to Adopt
interchangeable Ticket
ORIGIN OF THE CONTROVERSY
It Is the outsrowth of Differences Be-
tween the Rock Island and Its Princi-
pal Competitors Over Transcontinen.
tai Traffic-GouId Roads Side With
the Rock Island.

Chicago, July 9.-Formal notice that
they will adopt an interchangeable
mileage ticket good on trains, COM
mencing Sept. !, cor as soon after as
possible" was given Tuesday by the
Chicago & Northwestern, the Chicagos
St Paul. Minneapolis q Omaha, the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the
Chicago. Burlington & Quincy, and the
Illinois Central railroads. The Wiscon-
sin Central and the Chicago Great
Western passenger officials announced
that they were in favor of using the
ticket, but the question would have to
be decided by the higher officials of
the road.
These announcements We're made at
a special meeting of the Western Pas
senger Association, hastily called after
Chairman Mcleod had issued circular
to the effect that the proposition sub
mitted to the association to substitute
Il ticket good on trains for the present
credential system was lost, several
votes having been cast against it. Only
nine of the thirty railroads In the asso-
citation were represented at Tuesdays
meeting. Five Of the roads declared
that they would adopt the new ticket.
two others voted for 1t subject to the
approval of the executive officers.
The Chicago & Alton railroad voted
against changing the interchangeable
mileage system, and the Santa Fe re-
fused to vote on the question.
The Rock Island system is not in
cluded in the membership OF the West
ern Passenger Association, and was not
represented at Tuesdays meeting. The
controversy over the interchangeable
mileage II is well known, Is the out
growth of differences between the Rock
Island and its principal competitors
over transcontinental traffic. The
trouble has spread until it now involves
every railroad of Importance in the
west Unless all signs fail, the adop-
ton of an interchangeable mileage
ticket. good on trains, by number of
competitors of the Rock Island system,
and it's allies. will be the signal for
the most extensive and expensive rate
war ever known in the west. 1t will
begin with passenger rates, but In all
probability will speedily spread to all
freight traffic.
When the mileage question was dis
cussed two weeks ago by the lines
in the bureau of the Western associa-
ton, the Rock Island gave notice that IL
any combination of its competitors
adopted AN interchangeable mileage
ticket, good on trains, the Rock Island
would extend its credential system to
Ell Paso and Denver, and would make
permanent the present ftrst-class rate
of SIS between Chicago and st. Pau.
This rate was inaugurated about
month ago by the Wisconsin Central,
and is $3.50 less than the regular first
class rate between those points.
If that rate is maintained between
here and st. Paul corresponding re-
duction in the regular rate Will ensue
between Chicago and ST. Louis and all
the Missouri river gateways.
The extension of the credential Sys-
TEN to Ell Paso and Denver by the
Rock Island will amount to the estab-
lishment of 2-cent -amile rate. in
trans Missouri territory. 1t is under
stood that the Gould system will be
allied with the Rock Island in main
the present credential inter-
changeable mileage system.
The roads which have announced
their intention of adopting Il mileage
ticket to be honored by conductors on
trains say they do so for two reasons.
One is that large number of firms
commercial travellers have
the adoption of such ticket.
The other reason offered is that the
present credential system is too pop
ular; that great many people are
using it who would pay full local rates
of fare. 1t is thought that a majority
of the persons who use the credential
system will not pay $50 in advance for
a 2.OOO-mile ticket, and take the risk
OF losing a rebate of $3.50 If they
do not travel 1900 miles within year.
Under the credential system no rebate
is paid unless 1000 miles are travelled
within a year from the date of the
credential. The holder of it pays local
rates for each trip, but II he travels
.. 900 miles year his credential entities
him to a rebate, making the net rate
2 cents a mile.
RAILROAD MEN GET MORE PAY.