The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-26
SPANISH ROADS NOT CHEAP
More Expensive 10 Travel There
Than in America
MILEAGE BOOKS ARE A BIG SAVING
REGULAR TICKETS SOLD AT RATE
OF FOUR CENTS A MILE ARE
GOOD ON ALL LINES.


Consul-General B. H. Ridgley, of Bar
celona. gives the following informa-
ton as to the railway companies Of
Spain, the charges and conditions.
The average first class fare in Spain
is about four cents mile Gust double
the first class of some American lines,
and with only so pounds free baggage)
but with mileage books, which are
good On all the railroads of Spain, the
fare works out at 2.65 cents a mile for
1,210 miles down to 1.S5 and II cents
mile for 5000 and $500 miles.
In order to secure these mileage
tickets, application must be made at
any of the important railway stations
of Spain at least As hours before the
ticket is required. Sample book forms
to be filled up by the applicant are fur
nished at any of the railway offices
and the application must invariably
be accompanied by a Az by 3k- Inch
unmounted photograph of the appli-
can't This is glued on the inner COW
er Of the mileage book. If desired sew
eral persons may use the same book,
but the book must contain a photo
graph of each of these persons. There
is no advantage in having several
names on the same book, except that
if persons are traveing regularly to-
gether the trouble of making out a
separate application and the addi-
tional fee for preparing separate book
for each person is avoided by making
a collective demand.
Cost of Mileage Books.
Second-class mileage books, cost
from 1876 cents down to 1.27 cents per
mile while third-class mileage books are
issued at one-third less than those for
second class. In Spain it is impossi-
BILE, however, to travel third class. AS
a matter Of fact even second class is
not very satisfactory, for the reason
| that the express trains as a rule are
limited to first class. However, for
persons who do not object to crowds
and slow travelling and long waits at
railway stations, second class is not
impossible. 1t is said that tourist
agents in central Europe either know
very little about these economical
Spanish kilometric tickets, or else for
| reasons of their own do not advise in
OF To ~,
to their existence. Perhaps this is due
| to the fact that the Spanish railways
allow the agents commissions on tick
| ct sales At any rate, persons who
want to travel economically in Spain
should endeavOr to supply themselves
with mileage This can be done either
at Gibraltar or at Algeciras by persons
arriving in Spain by the Mediterranean
route. Those coming from France may
secure mileage at San Sebastian 80
miles from the frontier. Travellers ar
irving from France or Italy by the
southern route may secure the tickets
at Barcelona.
Spell Tickets for Tourists.
AS an example of the saving these
| tickets afford tourists, it may be stat
ed that the first-class 1are from BARGE
Iona to Madrid alone is $15.S5, while
with kilometric ticket of 1000 kilo-
meters 1850 mleS) which would cost
S31.S5 and which is good for three
months, the trip from Barcelona to
Madrid, thence to Toledo, Granada,
Cordova and Seville and back to Mad
rid could be accomplished. In other
words, it cost about so per cent. less
to travel with the mileage tickets than
with the ordinary tickets Moreover.
the first class tickets are good on all
trains. They are also good on the
Madrid Cacere and Lisbon line, thus
enabling holders to visit Portugal.