The Lake County times., 1908-08-21
EXPRESS OPINIONS
ON FIVE CENT FARE
Possibility of Cheap Rate
is Again Revived in
South Chicago.
VIEWS FROM VARIOUS ANGLES
Some Say It Would Be Harmful To
Business While Others Think
It Beneficial.

Rumor has it that ere long South
/ Chicagoans will be enabled to go to
the city for five cent fare by the
way of South Chicago avenue to Cot
! tage Grove avenue, thence to the city
on the pay as-you-enter cars. 1t
sounds nice and many, indeed, would
welcome the direct route. The question
is. Would it or would it not be bene-
fetal to the business interests of South
Chicago?" Many of the business men
think 1t would, while others depre-
ciate the idea.
A number of business men expressed
themselves on the matter to a TIMES
reporter today. and it is left to the
gentle reader to draw his own con-
clusions.
Louis Kahn, manager Lederers' de-
partment store: In the absence of Mr.
Lederer, who is away on his vacation.
Mr.. Kahn expressed himself to TIMES
reporter as follows: Il think that a
one fare rate to Chicago would be a
good thing. 1t would affect the busi-
ness of South Chicago very little In
return it would be a benefit. There
are hundreds of people in Chicago who
live in the congested district and are
employed down town, who would. If
there was one fare to Chicago. move
to this district and make their homes
here. Instead of taking away business
1t would bring more here. 1t would
also be great benefit to the working
men to whom nickel means so much"
Ex-Alderman John s. Derpa, Standard
Clothing store: Il don't think a five
cent fare to Chicago would have any
effect on the local business interests
at all. OF course it would affect a
certain class of people, but those are
the ones who go to Chicago to do their
trading. 1t would also be a good thing
for the poorer class, those people who
live in the outlying districts In re-
CARDS to the matter of business if
South Chicagoans are going to do their
trading in Chicago they will go there
regardless of the price it costs them
to go there. Again, there are very few
people who would take a two hours
ride from South Chicago to Randolph
street, in the city, in order to do their
trading at the big department stores
L have talked to a great many people
on the subject and the majority are
in favor of it. Others say 1t would
affect business interests here 1 can't
see 1t that way. l have always been
in favor of one fare rate to Chicago
and strongly advocate a ten cent fare
on the Illinois Central
A. E. Gertz, manager of Benders' de-
partment store: Il cannot see where
the five cent rate to Chicago would be
of any benefit to the local business in
terests. From business mans stand
point 1t cannot help but affect business
IN South Chicago. In some ways IL
may have its good points, but the
higher the rate to Chicago the more
business will remain in this city II
was years ago when the business men
of South Chicago made their money. |
1t was then when they could not get |
to the downtown district without pay
Ing a 36-cent fare. A woman will go !
to Chicago and buy a spool of thread |
If she knows there are other bargains |
in the department stores
III. vi. Brown, Browns music store: i
OF course, the five cent fare to Chi |
cago will not materially affect our |
business. but from a general business |
standpoint l don't think it would be |
a good thing. The futher South Chi !
cago is away from Chicago proper the |
better 1t would be for our business |
men. Scores of people, just because of |
the five cent reduction, will travel the
dresome journey to Chicago on the
street cars. They don't care how long
1T takes them to get there just so they
get advantage of the bargains.
Alfred w. Bimrose, Spiegers house
furnishing store: The five cent fare
to the city would be a good thing for
the poorer class of people. While those
more well-to-do would go at all haz-
ards. despite the transportation
charge. If the South Chicago mer-
merchants can offer the publis as good
a quality of goods as the downtown es-
adjustments at prices commensurate.
the one fare proposition will not cut
any figure, in my opinion"