Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-17
ROADS OPPOSE CUT RATES
Most OF Them Vote to Make Two Cents
the Minimum.
QUESTION UP AT THE PRESENT
Tendency IL 10 Revert 90 Original De-
termination of RefusinE 60 Cat
Passenger Fares Any
Mere.

Western railroads are now voting In
Chicago on the proposition OF keeping all
passenger rates up to 2 cents n mile In all
the territory between the great lakes and
the Rocky mountains In the states where
the legislatures enacted the 2-cent maxi
mum passenger rate law. It is understood
that all the roads nave cast their votes In
favor of keeping up the rate, except four.
and these have not voted.
When the legislatures enacted the 2-cent
laws the railroads decided that as the
people wanted 2 cents a mile as the top
rate, 1t should be the minimum, and to that
end for a year and a half no reduced rates
were given. A break was made for the
Iowa State fair this fall and then pressure
was brought to bear from all sides, with
the result that many fairs and big affairs
in the west had rates. Now the roads
want to revert to the old standard and
make an agreement among themselves to
refuse all requests for rates in the future
except for national conventions or some
thing big.
Passenger business is picking Wp ell over
the country and reports OF the roads for
September and October show an increase.
A further increase is also noticeable since
election.
Freight business in the west also shows
an increase. Some of the western roads
are really pressed for cars to handle the
Increased business which is being moved.
While the west is showing an increase,
some OF the lines to the east are not pick
Ing up as well.
Railroads in wyoming.
Wyoming will be the scene of great in
dustrial activity during the year.
and the indications are that building of
railroads and other activities will far sur
pass any year in the history of that state.
1t seems certain the Burlington will build
It's line from the Big Horn basin to con-
meet with its line from Nebraska TO duern-
sey and thus make a second through line
from the Missouri river to connect with
the great Hill roads on the north. The new
line will be Il great freight carrying line
because OF Its water level practically ali
the way. TIL Union Pacific will continue
Its double-track work on the main line. Is
contemplating a branch from wamsutter
south into Routt county, Colorado. and
probably will continue it's Broken Bow
branch by way of Wheatland to Medicine
Bow. Irrigation work will require thous-
ands OF laborers, and oil wells, cement
works and new farms will require many
more.
Union racine Onicials.
The third annual meeting Of the operating
Officials OF the Union Pacific is being held
at Denver. This meeting was scheduled for
June. but was postponed because of the
high water in Kansas. which kept many
Oh the officials from attending.
Railway Notes and Personals.
+. 70. Young, formerly superintendent OF
the McCook division OF the Burlington, has
been made superintendent OF the Sheridan
division of that road, vice n. b, Miller. re-
signed e. 8. Roller has been appointed
superintendent of the McCook division TO
succeed Mr.. Young. Mr.. Roller was for
merry assistant superintendent of the Lin
coin division.
A special car on the Milwaukee Monday
evening carried about fcrty-flve NebraRka
agents Of the Racine-Sattiey compan 10
Racine for a visit at the factory OF the com
pany. Iowa agents OF the company will
join the train enToute.
The annual emigration OF laborera m
southern Italy has set In and Monday even
ing the Union Pacific delivered three car
loads TO the Milwaukee, billed to New
York. Every fall these .laborers. who work
on the railroads during the summer. return
10 sunny Italy to spend the winter in the
warmer cline and return IN the spring.
10 y. Iomax. general passenger agent.
ana w. II. Murray, assistant general mas
senger agent OF the Union Pacific. left
Monday for Chicago,