The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-27
HIGH GLASS TRAINS.
Railroad Journal Declares They are
 Not Profitable,

The profit in fast. high class tourist trains has long been a doubtful question among railway men.
 So far as the dollars and cents go the expenses generally exceed the receipts but it has always been argued that the fast trains advertise the roads which op- crate them.
 The origin of the expression. "the pub lie be d-d." Is found in the taking off of n fast train by William H. Vanderbilt when he found that it did not pay. He argued that If the public wanted fast trains they would patroniZe them. When they preferred the slower trains. he took of the fast one from the New York Gen. tral.
 The Central of Georgia cut out the Nancy Hanks, the fastest train ever run in the South. because 1t was unprofit- hh!n.
 About year ago the Pennsylvania dis continued a 20-hour train between New York and Chicago because it did not pay.
 Every winter the roads in the South nut on fast trains between the North and West and Florida. When asked if these trains were profitable the managers have not been positive in their statements on the affirmative side.
 Writing on this subject tho Railroad Record of Atlanta, says that the tourist trains do not pay. It suggests that au- other year 1t will pay the roads to oper- ate aad alternate. The article which has attracted wide attention among railway men, says:
 'Too many high-class passenger trains are being run,
 Take the service offered this year ard in previous years for the Northern tour Ists going to Florida. They have tho choice of three magnificent trains south of Washington. These trains represent a large investment-$75,0 900 to $100.009 each.
 Each of the three roads had to main tain four or five of these trains. They are run at high speed. They have the right of way over everything. All other trains must take the sidings and wait The delay to freight, the over time, the fuel and the extra expense. are items difficult to estimate in dollars and cents. but 1t is very large in the aggregate. ''Now, what business have these trains done?
 ''Up to March 1 they did not average twenty-five passengers per southbound trip The revenue on Ine best patronized train was not 60 cents per train mile southbound. and one hates to figure how small 1t was northbound. Some days it was not 10 cents a mile. For the entire aeason these fast trains will not average 40 cents per train mile both ways
 while this present season has seen the largest travel South ever known there was not more than enough business to comfortably fill one train.
 'Then why not another year operate the fast trains jointly? Let the Atlantic Coast Line take 1t one day. the seaboarc the next and the Southern the third They cap alternate and If passenger wishes to go by a particular route, he can so arrange his trip.
 An arrangement of this kind Will save a large investment, give such road more revenue and afford great relief to the operating departments"
 Travelling Passenger Agent Waiter Beasley of the Louisville and Nashville has the honor of running the first ex- curs,on of the 1904 season. He ran one out of Montgomery last night to Pensa' cola. the battleships in the harbor beire the attraction. and fourteen well filled coaches went on the train. Nearly every one of the early night trains brought good crowds of excursionists> some oi the morning and afternoon trains bring ing them.