The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-24
RAILROAD NEWS.
Traffic Mem Say Passenger Rates
Will Take Tumble.
Flat 2 Cent Rate Between AL
Iantic Coast and No. River.
COME WITHIN 2 YEARS
No Effort to Prevent Inaugural
tiOn of Low Rates.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

chicago, Oct 24.-Within two years
the maximum passenger rate between
the Missouri river and the Atlantic
coast will be 2 cents per mile. according
to some of the ablest passenger traffic
officials in the country
The special meeting of the mileage
bureau of the Central Passenger associ-
alton, which was called for Tuesday.
has been indefinitely postponed. It is
unlikely that any further effort will be
made either by the passenger officials
or their superiors to prevent the in
auguration on November 1 Of a fiat
rate Of cents per mile by all lines in
the territory of the Central association,
bounded on the east by Buffalo, Pitts
burg and jamestown.
The adoption of the 2 cent rate will
be the doom of the interchangeable
mileage ticket of the Central associa-
ton. 1t has been sold at the rate of $50
for 1000 miles of transportation, with
a rebate of $40 If used exclusively by
the original purchaser.
It was a great convenience to persons
who Travelled much, and saved the rail-
roads thousands of dollars monthly,
practically preventing ticket scalping
between important cities in the associa-
TONS territory.
The coming trouble in passenger rates.
west as well as east of Chicago is
primarily due to the passage by several
eastern states of law making 2 cents
per mile the maximum rate. When po-
htical signs pointed to such a law in
the Keystone state the Pennsylvania
railroad announced that it would make
a voluntary reduction in its maximum
rate to 215 cents per mile, and would
put on sale on November 1, at the rate
of cents, mileage book good for
holder"
The Erie road proposed to sell an in
Interchangeable mileage ticket for $25
with a rebate of IS, limited to the orig
inal purchaser, but this was abandoned
when the Pennsylvania offered to sell
for $40 a 1000 mile ticket which anybody
could use.
The weaker lines have declared that
in order to meet the competition Of the
Pennsylvania new book it viii be nee
essary for them to adopt a maximum
rate OF 2 cents a mile. The meeting of
passenger officials In New York Friday
demonstrated that no agreement could
be effected which would avert a general
reduction in rates on November 1 to 2
cents per mile, and therefore the meet
ing which was called for today here was
declared off
Il believe the rate reduction which
the eastern roads will make on Novem-
Der l will spread until 2 cents per mile
VIII De lne maximum rate between the
Atlantic coast and the Rocky noun
tains" yesterday declared one Of the
most prominent passenger officials in
the United States.
New York and Ohio now have cent
laws, Michigan practically has. and it is
almost certain that Pennsylvania, In
diana, Iowa and Wisconsin will enact
such laws at the next meeting Of their
legislatures. The railroads can stand it
now. for they are at the pinnacle of the
greatest prosperity ever known in this
country, but when the lean years come
the railroads viii suffer great losses in
passenger traffic"