The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-08
%2-C[NTFARE WAVE
SWEEPING EAST
MI Railroads This Side OF the
Mississippi River Threatened
With Reductions.
OHIO IS THE PIONEER
Matter Has Become Campaign Is
size III 1ndia,la-."Graded Law
iii Michigan.

CHICAGO, ILL, April 1.-THE rail-
roads Of every State east OF the Missis-
sippi River are face to face With threat
encd reductions in passenger fares to a
two-ccnt a mile basis. That 1t will come
IN tho near future seems almost beyond
question. It Is recognized by tho rail-
roads that nothing can be done to stop
the progress Of the agitation.
The example OF Ohio is becoming con-
tagious, and quick action Is demanded
and Is expected in several states MS soon
as their new Legislatures shall convene.
IN Indiana the two-ccht fare Is almost
n campaign issue, for the legislators who
will be elected next fall will, as n rule,
be tacitly, If not openly, committed TO q
two-ccnt measure.
T'he action Of Charles s. Mellcn, prcsi-
dent Of tho New York, New Haven and
Hartford Railroad, In reducing fares on
several divisions and In announcing that
he proposes speedily to make similar re-
d,lctiors over the entire system. IS ex-
pcctcd TO do more to advance the two
cent fare cause than any other one thing.
sui another important factor ID me
electric line. Almost everywhere has the
troiley invaded the territory of the steam
road and fares on electric lines mover cx-
cecded two cents. More and more have the
steam roads been compelled TO confine
tlenlsclves to through business. leaving
the local traffic to the competing trolley.
NOT AN UNMIxDD EVIL.
Seeing the tremendous stimulus that has
been given to travel by the owe fares OF
the trolley and by the special steam road
rates, many passenger men really do not
view the two-ccnt era as an unmixed evil.
They honestly believe that a reduction
would have two erfects-aten1ming trolley
line competition and creating altrcnlei-
dous flow of new business. This accounts
for the failure Of the railroads of Ohio TO
attack tho legality of the new law In the
courts. They wish first to gee what effect
1t will have on their earnings. and many
Of them do not expect the trial to prove
disastrous.
Michigan took the Initiative In the re-
duction. Of passenger fares. but the law
there is q graded one, depending upon the
earnings Of the railroads. The fares per-
mitted to be charged range from four
cents on some roads in the Upper PENN
sula to two cents OH the main lines in the
lower State.
GRADED LAW SATISFIES.
This law has resulted in giving the poo
plc Of Michigan aItwo cent fare on over
seven hundred miles of main lines and q
two and one-half cent rate on four hun
drcd miles Of road. The operation of the
law has proved eninently satisfactory 20
| the people of the State. and SO far rs can
Supplies for Panama Canal.
The purchase of the Panama Canal
Commission include guinea pigs. White
mice, wooden legs. Bibles and playing
ca rds. 1t has ordered $4,000 pounds Of
blasting powder and $4,000 pounds of
dynamite. The paving Of the city of
Panama require 1000, 900 paving brick.
| Also, 3, 800. 900 brick for the construction
OF buildings. with 30, Ooo,o 900 feet OF lum-
Der, have been sent on. In addition to
the locomotives in use by tho railroad,
800 have been bought for excavatins,
together with 1900 fiat cars and hun
dreds Of dump cars. 5000 tons of steel
rails, and 125. 900 cross ties upon which
TO lay the rails.-Technical World Maya
zine.