The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-25
John Sebastian Points Out
Danger in 2-Cent Fares.
Shows Missouri Legislature Big
Loss 1t will nean.
FEWER PASSENGERS.
Would Also Cause Abandonment
OF European Campaign.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

Chicago. Jan. 25.-Plans of the
Rock Island and other big railway
systems for the development or agrl-
cultural and other resources or the
west and southwest are endangered Dy
hostile legislation threatened IN
number of states. Most prominent OF
anti-railway bills introduced In sever
al legislatures are those fixing cents
per mile as the maximum passengeI
rate, In most cases reduction OF D .
per cent. -
To a special committee OF the leg1s-
lature of Missouri John SEBASTIAN
passenger traffic manager of the ROCK
Island-Frisco system, said YESTERDAY
the passage of 2 cent a mile Dill
would have a much greater eHect OF
the revenue of those roads IN una
state than the mere reduction in pas
senKer rates He said Missouri was
not getting fair share OF lmmlgra-
ton to this country, and that lines ne
represented had made arrangements
TO bring a large number OF oeslrdpIe
settlers from Europe, many OF Whon
would locate in that state and AID
greatly in developing its resources.
Means Big Cost to Railroads.
Mr.. Sebastian pointed out that the
work of obtaining such Immigrants IN
volved a heavy outlay by railroads,
and that if they were made the OBJ
1ects of measures to reduce their rev.
enue. thew could not afford to under
take the work.
zone of the Immediate results of
our European campaign, said MI
Sebastian yesterday, lis the appoint
ment by the italian government OF an
expert commission of northern Itallan
agrfcuIturists and horticultur1sts, ac-
companied by a professor or the agrl-
cultural school of Pisa The object
of this commission is to study cond1-
lions and opportunities existing on our
lines, and report to the government
The party will reach this country next
month. Their report will determine
the future movement of a desirable
class of farmers from the north Of
Italy. We are assured that thousands
of families are ready to act upon rec
concentrations of that commission,
and / am confident Missouri will
greatly profit by this movement.
Big Campaign in Europe.
Arrangements have also been made
for a thorough campaign in Germany,
Sutherland, Austria, Great Britain,
the Scandinavian colonies in the Bal
tic and Black sea provinces of Russia,
where a large emigration of farming
population is preparing and is already
under way. Several hundred thousand
copies of descriptive and illustrated
pamphlets in all European languages
are in preparation, and will be distr1b-
uted through our European agencies
Certain II Is InaI missouri VIII De
a liberal sharer in benefits accruing.
Do you think that. if the revenue of
our lines and the lines of other rail-
roads in Missouri are reduced to such
a point as to make the operation un-
profitable. or, at best, to barely cover
the cost of operation, this work can be
continued? 2"
Mr.. Sebastian pointed out that a re-
duction in passenger rates would
fource the railroads to reduce the
number of passenger trains. His adj
dress apparently made a strong i'm
preston on the members of the Mis-
souri, legislature.