The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-20
May Introduce Scrip System on
Lines in Southwest.
Proposal to Substitute 1t for In
Interchangeable Mileage Plan.
WOULD BRING RELIEF.
Persons Travelling Much Both
cred With Present Method.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

Representatives of the passenger de-
partments of the various railroads
which are members of the Southwestern
Excursion bureau discussed a. plan at
the meeting of the bureau, which was
held last week in san Antonio. for
introducing the scrip method of buying
mileage in considerable quantities. All
of the important lines in the southwest
are members of this bureau including
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific.
This plan as suggested is to do away
with the present interchangeable mile
age credit system and use the scrip in
its place. Several OF the men present
at the meeting favored the plan but
the matter is held in allegiance and it
is not unlikely that it will be adopted
The scrip would be intended for the
commercial travellers and for others who
do good deal of riding on trains and
VINO, by reason of such, are entitled to
a little advantage in rates.
The proposition is to sell not less than
$50 of scrip at one time, which would be
in the form Of railway mileage and
would equal 1000 miles of it, good on
any line in the southwest. The pur-
chased, after using it all, would receive
refund Of $40, which would make his
mileage cost him 215 cents a mile, in
stead of cents.
The present method of accommodate
ing the class that travels a good deal is
by the interchangea bic mileage credit
system. The system is really as bun
glesOme as the name and it is for this
reason that the general passenger
agents would change to the scrip basis.
By the interchangea mileage system
any one can get a cFedentiaI card for
81 that entities him to the benefit of
the system. After he gets this card he
h14xv re,I
and paying the full price therefor, 3
| cents a mile. Each time he buys a
ticket he gets a receipt therefor and he
saves up these receipts until they
amount to $50, showing he has travelled
1000 miles. Then he can turn in his
receipts and get a refund of $40, which
has given him a rate of 21A cents a mile.
All this must be done within one years
time.
The interchangeable system is full of
complexities. Each time a traveller get
ting advantage of it buys a ticket he
must present his credentials to the
/ ticket agent establishing his identity.
The ticket agent then must write a re-
ceipt with two duplica les The receipt
| goes to the purchaser while one of the
| duplicates go TO the auditor of the road
and the other is sent to a clearing
house" at ST. Louis.
Many complications arise. The traV-
I eler frequently leaves his credentials at
/ he swears, for the agent can not then
Issue him a receipt and he does not
kget the reduction on that trip Again
these credentials are frequently lost
and then there is trouble all along the
/ line.
Another source of annoyance is in
| the traveller frequently failing to have
/ the conductor who makes up his ticket
punch his receipt This is a require
ment and if he fails his receipt is
! worthless.
/ BY the adoption of the scrip method
the receipt business is cut off and the
whole plan much simplifed. The
i greatest disadvantage in it is the re-
quirement of cash outlay at the start
of $50. Many travelling men do not
find it convenient to buy 1000 miles OF
mileage at one time. and there would
doubtless be some falling off in that
| class of business
The scrip, like the interchang cable
mileage. would be good over any of the
lines in the southwestern territory. As
a whole the scrip is favored and will
likely be adopted in place of the pres
/ ent system.