The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-21
On Account of Grand Army En-
campment Next Month.
KANSAS INTERESTED.
Santa Fe Chosen as Official Road
of Kansas Contingent.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
i'm Railroad Circles.

The impending rate war situation be-
tween the railroads operating between
Chicago and Boston for the business in
consequence of the Grand Army en-
campment at Boston is attracting the
attention of Grand Army men all over
the western portion of the United
States.
Kansans are especially interested in
the situation inasmuch as this state is
expected to turn out big crowds for the
encampment, and every dollar cut from
the agreed rate will mean that much
more for the veterans.
When the representatives of the lines
operating eastbound from Chicago
agreed to reduced rates for this gath
ering last winter, the rate named was
one cent a mile in each direction. or
S20.35 via all roads. Recently one or
two of the differential lines from Chi
cago to the east have been quoting a
rate of s17.75, which is the differential
between the fares of the Vanderbilt
roads. Michigan Central and Lake
Shore, and the so-called weak roads.
General Passenger Agent Ruggles OF
the Michigan Central has thrown down
the gauntlet to all lines by stating that
his road would stand by the agreement
and in doing so would quote as low
rate to the old soldiers encampment as
any other line. This Is the first time
standard road has come into the open
on the differential fare principle as ap-
piled to reduced rates and special gath
erings, and it is the prevailing opinion
that the Vanderbilts have selected this
meeting upon which to fight out the
differential fare principle as applied to
excursion business.
Representatives of the Grand Trunk,
Wabash and other differential roads
say they will go the Michigan Central
one better and sell round trip tickets
$3.50 below any rate named by the
MICHIGAN Central other stand
ard fare line
No course of action has yet been an
nounced by the Lake Shore and the
Pennsylvania roads in regard to the
rates caused by the application of the
diferential principle TO the sale there
Of As the Lake Shore has about as
much regular business as it can con-
veniently attend to, it may not care
enough about the Grand Army business
to fight over it and as the Pennsylva-
mia is both a standard and a differen-
tial line out of Chicago, it may also re-
gard the matter with Indifference
The Michigan CentraIs position is that
it will not quote any cut rate or go out
same time it has notified all its connec-
tionS that they are at liberty to use for
rate named by any of its competitors. 1t
will also sell tickets over its own coun-
ter at Chicago at the lowest rate aGvcr-
tised by any of it's competitors.
This means, if its announcement is not
a grand blun, that it VIII give a rate OIL
S17.75 and the ''differentials'' in turn will
be called upon to come down to $15.15 for
tickets from Chicago to Boston and re-
turn.
The 'differentials'' assert that they are
only awaiting the public announcement of
the s17.75 rate by the Michigan Central be-
fore cutting under it, AS the Michigan
Central has already notified it's agents to
sell at 81. 70, and has informed its connec-
lions that they at liberty to use the
lowest rate named for basing purposes
over its lines, the .'differentials'' must
either cut Immediately await the ap-
pearance of three sheet posters before adj
hitting that the Michigan Central is ad-
vertisinG their rate.
Inc santa F'e railroad has been desig-
mated by the Grand Army officials of
Kansas as the official route for the del
egation from this state. However, the
other railroads are offering the same
rates and are holding forth all the in
ducements possible to attract a portion
of the business.
The Santa Fe will have a special train
leave Kansas City for Chicago on the
morning of August II.
Sam Larimer of Topeka will go east
with the train as the representative of
the Santa Fe to help make it pleasant
for the passengers