Middletown transcript., 1906-06-30
RAILROAD FARES HERE AND ABROAD

RAILROAD FARES HERE AND ABROAD
Comparison between passen 4
GER fares here and abroad in
Europe are wholly misleadingTif if
only frst-class. fares are cited
abroad. This is what Mr. H. /
Newcomb has done in the com
parison of rates for passenger
travel in Europe aud the United
States which he has sent to Sen
ator Lodge. Senator Lodge has
had it printed as public docu
ment. 1t is widely quoted. The
impression it conveys amounts to
a misstatement, doubtless unin-
territorial
"Mr. Newcomb's assertion.
suggested by Senator Lodge, is
''that a comparison not unfair to
the European railways can be
made by setting against the first
class fares charged in this coun
try, plus the Pullman fares.
Taking this as a basis, Mr.. New
comb has no difficulty in showing
that fares in this country, plus u
Pullman seat or berth, are about
the same az abroad for tirst-class
fares.
"But this takes no account
whatever of the circumstance
that not over 8 per cent. of the
trays in England and only a
small per cent. of the travel on
the Continent is by tirst-class
fares.
"Mr. Newcomb gives the fare
from Philadelphia to New York,
fare 81. so, and Pullman so cents,
total So. He compares this with
the run from Turin and Bologna,
which is $3.50. But the passen-
ger who goes from Philadelphia
10 New York has no option but to-
$3.50. This is the cheapest at
which he can go In Italy, if one
chooses to travel third class, and
for a run of ninety -one miles, as
short as this, everyone travels
thSrd class, except fools and
Americans, +" it is possible on an
Italian railroad to obtain third
class fare half to two thirds that
of a frst-elass carriage, Sec
ond class fares, which even the
wealthy use, are 25 per cent. less
than 6rst-class.
$50, also, it is no fair compar
issn to point out that the 424
miles from Philadelphia to
Greensboro, N. e., costs 1870
in this country, while the 424
miles in Spain, from Madrid To
Huelva, cost SIG Oh. Spanish
fares are, in the first place alb
surdly high. For some inscrut
able reason, known only to HIM
self and Senator Lodge, Mr.. /
Newcomb has omitted English !
fares altogether In Spain the
third class is not often taken by
ladies or people of means, for
long journey of day, but men
are constantly going second and
third class, and the great mass
travel third class as they do in
every European country.
"a Spanish mechanic in
Huelya, who finds there is work
in Madrid, travels third class
and gets there for a little over
half the tirst-class fare, The
North Carolina mechanics, of
Greenboro, who wants to.get the !
benefit of a job in Philadelphia,
cannot come cheaper than $12.70 |
(omitting the charge for a Pull
mani, which is saving far less
than the Spanish mechanic can
secure by his third class fare.
'8These comparisons run
through Mr.. Newcomb's entire
table. He omits all reference to
circular tickets sold III every
European country on which a
considerable saving is secured
from first class fares. He makes
no mention of mileage and zone
tickets. which are far cheaper
there than our round twp tickets,
except when excursions are on
foot. But his chief omission is 10
his failure TO include third-class
fares. Tile Philadelphia Press.
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