The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-09-01
GREAT RUSH OF HoMEsEEkERs
WILL START FOR THE WEST
NEXT MONTH.
Reduced Rates On All Trans continen-
tai Railroads Will Go Into Effect
September 18th.

The rush of colonists to the Pacific
northwest this fall will probably ex-
coed all records for previous travel.
Though the low one-way rates are
not made effective until September Is,
all the transcontinental lines have
booked travellers for the first5lew days
and many prepaid orders have been
received here.
Prepayment OF tickets by western
friends is usual during the colonist
movement, for there are hundreds in
the west who are eager to bring out
friends or relatives in the east. But
1t is unusual for the orders for tickets
to come In so far in advance of the
first movement of cheap trains. The
number OF inquiries, coming with the
actual purchase of tickets, is unpre-
cedented and foreshadows an unusual
traffic.
The colonist rates were agreed upon
last spring. They apply between Sep
TENDER Is and October 81. During
that time the ore-way second-class
rate to the coast terminals will be re-
iuced to $25. New dates for home
seekers have just been announced.
These are a one-way first-c1ass fare,
plus 81, for the round trip. Like the
homeseeker rates of last spring, the
fall rates will apply to territory east
Of Wenatchee and Ellensburg.
Will Attract Eastern Farmers.
Railroad men believe that the home
seeker rates will attract large travel
of eastern farmers eager to investi-
gate western agricultural prospect 5.
The rates are slightly below the Lewis
and Clark fair charges and do away
with the necessity of coming through
to coast points to secure valuation of
tickets.
Such homeseekers as desire to see
the coast country will travel on the
regular Lewis and Clark excursion
tickets. The homeseeker anxious only
to see the farming districts and to
select new home will avail himself
Of the homeseeker rates. The dates
Of sale for such tickets are September
and 10, October 3 and II and Novem-
Der and 81.
Colonist travel is purely that Of
actual settlers VINO have determined
upon a new location and who will
come west with the definite purpose of
locating permanently in view. The
cheap exposition fares nave attracted
many of this class, but the fall travel
will bring hundreds who have heard
of the country and it's possibilities
through friends already here or those
who have visited the Lewis and Clark
fair at Portland.
Many New Settlers Coming.
Railroad men were skeptical at the
beginning Of the year as to the value
of nomeseeker and colonist rates this
year. The spring travel was a disap-
pointment, and it was feared the fall
traffic would not justify putting into
effect the two rates for new settlers.
The Lewis and Clark excursion tickets
were regarded, at the outset, as suffi-
cient to draw the fasteners who
wanted new homes on the coast.
This view has since been dispellei,
and the advance sales Of colonist tick
cts merely reaffirms a later view pas
senger officials nave taken of the stu
alton. 1t is evident that the army Of
new settlers ready to move west are
attracted principally by the possible
ties of the country and nave definitely
determined upon locating here. They
will come after the summers work in
the east is completed.