Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-10-18

In response TO letter sent TO Gne state
Minnesota railway and warehouse COM
mission by Gov. Johnson, the commission
sent notices to all railroads operating in
the State directing them to show cause
why rates on coal and farm products
should not be reduced.
The Ohio Attorney General rendered
an opinion to the State railway commits
sion to the effect that railways have no
right to charge the usual ten-cent excess
fare when cash fare is rendered, even
where the company refunds upon presen-
tation of the conductors receipt.
A new convenience for women travellers
on sleeping cars has been introduced on
the Northern Pacific railway. 1t consists
of a large bag made of tough paper, with
strings at the top for closing it. Into this
receptacle the traveller may put her hat,
gloves, wells, light jackets and similar ar
ticles of apparel which are not in use in
the car. Then the bag is hung up out of
the way and its contents are kept free
from dust and cinders throughout the trip.
On and after Oct / the PENNSYLVANIA
lines west Of Pittsburg will charge only
2 cents a mile within the State of Ohio.
Travellers from that State, upon crossing
the line, will be charged with a higher
rate, and tickets from points out of Ohio
will be figured at the 2-cent rate only at
the Ohio line. The Baltimore and Ohio
and the Western Maryland announce that
they will issue 1,000mile transferable
tickets for 500, good for any number of
persons.
The persistent public demand for lower
fares on steam railroads that has prevail
ed for several years has at last been ac-
coded to by the management of the Erie
Railroad Company, and commencing Nov.
], the maximum rate per mile viii be two
and one-half cents. The action of the
Erie in thus voluntarily reducing its
fares is a commendable one. The asser-
ton here may not be amiss that passen-
ger fares in this country, accommodations
considered are already cheaper than in
any other country in the world. Italy
has perhaps the cheapest steam railroad
fares of any of the foreign countries. The
State of New York has an average per
square mile population Of 1913. Pennsylva
MIA 137, whereas in Ohio, where two
cent rate law has recently been enacted,
the average per square mile population is
only %, compared with Italy's legal rate
of 3.47 cents and an average per square
mile population of 1913
The Great Northern Railway Company
was convicted in the United States Court
for the western district of WISCONSIN at
La Crosse, of violation Of the statute re-
curing safety appliances on cars.
The GouIds have decided to reduce the
time for completing their new Western
Pacific line from Salt Lake City to San
Francisco, 80 that it will be in operation
by Jan /, 1909, with through passenger
and freight trains from San Francisco
to Baltimore Work is now in progress
in Nevada and California, and forty-seven
miles of track has been laid west of Salt
Lake City.
The Chicago and Northwestern Railway
is to begin work early next spring on a
new Chicago passenger station destined to
be the largest and most complete, with
one possible exception, in the United
States. This was announced the other
day when the company's officials made
public the location of the great new pas
senger terminal for which preparation has
been progressing secretly for five years.
The new station will occupy three solid
blocks. taking in all the space between
Canal and Clinton streets and extending
from West Madison to Lake street. The
Improvement viii cost not less than So
100000 at the terminal point, exclusive
of other extensive improvements
The Philippine Railroad Company, con-
trolled by the Vanderbilts, is placing large
contracts for material and equipment to
he used in the construction of network
of steam railways in the Philippines at
cost of s11,0OO,000. The lines are to be
built in the islands of Panay, Negros and
Cebu.
The National Refining Company and
the Tiona Refining Company of Indian
apolis have brought charges Of discrim
ination in tariff rates in favor of the
Standard Oil Company against forty-one
railroads. filing same with the State rail.
road commissioner. The commission h
asked to enforce the fair rate of classic.
cation.