Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-07-10
TRAVELLERS ARE
MUCH ANNOYED
New Two-Cent Passenger
Fare Law Works Great
inconvenience.
BURLINGTON SCENE OF TURMOIL
Passengers Are Forced to Leave
Trains There to Purchase
New Tickets.
As There Is Only Five Minutes Time
in Which to Do This some He.
Markable Scenes Are Wit.
messed Every Day.
BURLINGTON SCENE OF TURMOIL

Burlington, Ia. July s.-While the
railroads In Illinois and Iowa are
obeying the 2-cent fare laws recently
enacted in both states, passengers
from one state to anotherrare forced
to undergo great inconveniences to OBJ.
tain the lower rate.
Jostling, impatient crowdss in front
OF the ticket window of the Bur:ing.
ton Union station, striving to be
served within the Ave minutes
elapsing between the arrival and de.
parture of trains from the west to
points east. present remarkable
scene seldom witnessed until recent.
ly, except on rush day Of some popu-
lar excursion. Not only. every day
does this occur at the Union station
here nowadays, but every time Il
through train arrives from either the
east or west. These conditions have
prevailed since the Iowa 2-cent law
went into effect Thursday. l5
New Rates Not Arranged.
Under this law and the one passed
in Illinois passengers may ride from
any point within either state to an.
other point within the same state, but
where their journey takes them across
the state line they must pay the old
rate of 8 cents. 10
This condition arises from the fact
that there is as yet no interstate rate
and tickets cannot be sold for continu-
GUS passage from one state to the other
either way, except at the former rate.
For instance, If a man in Chicago
wishes to so to Burlington he may do
so for the 2-cent rate, as Burlington is
considered in Illinois on business from
Illinois points. If, however, he wants
to go to West Burlington, four miles
inside the Iowa state line, or to any
other point within the state he must
pay the Scent rate or buy a, ticket to
Burlington and then get of here and
rebuy to the point in Iowa tet.which
he wishes to so.
Some Get No Tickets.
The same thing is true Of rates
from Iowa points into Illinois, and
from appearances at the Union station
every time through train arrives,
practically every traveller on the rail
roads is attempting the plan of re
buying tickets here.
When heavily loaded passenger
train arrives Mt the Union station,
either for east or west it discharges
its entire cargo, and the passengers
go scurrying into the ticket Office and
besiege the window for the tickets
necessary to carry them to their des,
tination ut the cheap rate.
1t is impossible for the ticket of.
ficials, work as fast as they will. to
serve all the people who crowd about
the window, and as Il consequence
many of the latter must return to the
train ticketless or get left.
Baggage Also Affected.
This confusion is greatly increased
by the fact that baggage checked on
tickets is carried only as far as the
ticket reads, so it is necessary for the
passengers rebuylng tickets here to
have their baggage rechecked on the
new tickets. No train stops longer
than five minutes here and the scram,
BILE sometimes becomes exciting, many
passengers contenting themselves with
securing a change of checks and al
lowing their baggage to follow them
on the next train.
This confusion will last until the
interstate tariff is made out. The
railroad officials say that this Is a
very difficult and complicated piece OF
work and it is not known just when
II will be finished.