The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-23
REDUCTION OF PASSENGER
RATES.

TO the Editor:-I see from the
newspapers that bills have been in
troduced in the Legislature TO re-
duce passenger fares to three cents
for first class and two and a half
cents for second class. The introducer
Of these bills is cndeaVoring to pro-
mote the public welfare and to re-
duce the expense of travelling. i
have not one word to say in criti-
cism of his motives, but l am in
great doubt whether the passage of
such bills will not have the opposite
effect The cost of q railroad ticket IS
only q portion of the expense of tray
cling. When the distance travelled is
not great, ii is frequently only a
small portion of the expense of the
trip. If the traveller is required TO re-
main over night. taking two meals at
least and lodging at a hotel this ex-
pense is frequently as much as the
entire cost of his railroad fare. But
if he can return the same day. the
cost of one meal at hotel or reStau-
rant is all that is required of him.
In the past two years those inter
ested in mercantile business in the
various prosperous towns of the state
have earnestly requested additional
train service, so that persons living
within one hundred miles of those
towns might reach them in the morn
ing have the business portion of the
day there and return home the same
night. It was felt that nothing would
tend to increase the business and
trade of North Carolina towns more
than such improved train service. In
my connection with the Retail Mer-
chants Association Of this State, the
need of such train service has i'm
pressed me greatly, and l have done
all | could to secure the same. The
railroads have met this request in q
friendly spirit, and within the very
recent past the Seaboard has estab-
lished two shoo-fiy trains, one run
ming from Hamlet to Wilmington and
back, the other from Weldon to Raj
eigh and back, enabling persons liv-
ing along those lines to reach those
cities in the morning, have six or eight
hours in the city with Which to trans
act business, and get home that night.
Besides, it enables the travelling men
who travel the State to make from
three TO four towns per day, saving
them in expense from three to six
dollars per diem. The great demand
in North Carolina, l believe to be,
is increased facilities. rather than a
reduction in the fares.
The Southern has put on two such
trains, one from Ramseur to Green's
boro, and one from Danville. through
Greensboro. Sails bury and Charlotte,
passing Greensboro about one o'clock
in the day. The Atlantic Coast Line
has put on such a train from Fay
etteville North, enabling a passenger
to leave Fayetteville in the very early
morning and get to Raleigh to break
fast have the whole day ins Raleigh,
and get back to Fayetteville that
night. None of these trains were re-
quired to be run by the orders Of the
Corporation Commission, but were
put on by those railroads at the re-
quests Of the Boards of Trade.
Chambers of Commerce, and business
associations of the towns interested.
While the business of these trains is
increasing, it is stated (and from in
spection | believe it to be true) that
none of these trains are yet paying
the cost OF their operation. So far
they have been run at loss to the
company and the sole bencficiaries
have been the travelling public
Therefore. the reduction in the rates
would, | fear, be sufficient cause to
justify these roads to take off the
trains which they are operating with
in this State at a loss, because the
additional percentage of their loss in
the aggregate amounts to great deal
with them, without any relative bene-
fiji to the passenger.
In addition to the trains above
named, there is a strong demand for
additional service between the towns
Of kinston and Weldon which en-
braces the towns of Ayden, Greenville
Scotland Neck, and others, on the St
lantic Coast, a double daily service on
the Seaboard Air Line from Char
lotte TO Rutherfordton; and. while
there is only a probability of these
Sr,Gs h1aiVl nj i,.tA
reduction would remove all homes of
securing this additional service. 1
firmly believe that the travelling pub
lie and the commercial interests Iig-
ure gain by increased facilities far