The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-15
Roads Make Overatures With
Missouri for 3 Cent Fares.
May Possibly Agree to Put Into
Effect a Rate of 3 1.2 Cents.
AFFECTED BY KANSAS.
Same Rates Will Have to Meet
Those ON This Side of Line.
Other Items of Interest in Rail-
way Circles.

Kansas City. Mo-, March 15.-It has
transpired that overtures for con-
ference between the carriers and the
state of Missouri in regard to the
mooted re-estabHshment of the Scent
passenger fare in Missouri, were made
by the railroad interests. rather than
the defendants in the suit for injunc-
ton against the 2-cent law as was at
first reported. Although no date has
been fixed for such a meeting, it is pre-
Sumed it will be held soon.
Practically nothing was done at the
recent meeting of passenger traffic Of
hcials in st. Louis, although 1t de-
veloped that the preponderance of
fare all over the state with no middle
ground. One road, the wabash, tenta-
lively suggested that "a cents per mile
be charged in all parts of the STATE
along and north of the main line of
the Missouri Pacific from Kansas City
10 St Louis: all roads south of this line
to charge 3 cents. The proposal met
with little or no approval on the part
of the other railway interests repre-
scented.
In spite of the apparent sentiment in
favor of the old Scent rate, many rail-
readers are doubtful whether it VIII
ever again be put in effect in Missouri
They point out the polite value of a
concession to the travelling public in
the way of yielding half cent mile
under the rate which they were en-
powered by the federal court to charge.
Such a policy would undoubtedly create
a friendlier feeling among the people at
large, and at the same time would be
likely to forestall further legislation to-
ward the end of a 21s-cent rate.
The conference between the roads at
st. Louis was brought to a rather pre-
mature end by the kilograms from
President F. A. Delano of the Wabash,
4 T. Of a
Rock Island, who were very anxious
that no action be taken until another
1nter-railroad conference be held in
Chicago. Monday. At this meeting not
considered, but also that of general
raise of rates in this state, Wisconsin,
Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.
A peculiar situation exists as affect
ing the roads in western Missouri and
eastern Kansas, which do business be-
tween Kansas City and the Joplin
Pittsburg district. In Kansas the 2
cent fare is still in effect, and until it
is raised, the north and south roads in
Missouri must meet the Kansas rate
whether a. Scent basis is established in
this state or not. The roads thus af-
fected are the Frisco, Kansas City
Southern, Missouri, Kansas & Texas
and Missouri Pacific, all of which lines
hover closely to the interstate boun-
dairy each of them intersecting it at
one or more points.
AT tue OGSMCCI
the state and the railroads, it is more
than likely that a rate of 21s cents will
be agreed upon. In such an event, the
passenger officials of the roads will
with little doubt urge that they be
given the privilege of collecting cents |
a mile on every cash fare paid upon
the train. In the long run, such an
item would amount to q considerable
increase of revenue for the roads, and, |
together with the additional half cent
on other fares over the present rate, it
is thought the railroads of Missouri
would enter upon a welcome period of
prosperity. making better service pos
Sile.