Semi-weekly herald., 1914-02-02

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would make the fare from Durango -
Denver or reverse about $1,000 as
against $3.50 at present. If we ever
expect to get this section fully devel-
oped we must obtain a passenger
rate that will induce investors al1
homeseekers to come and investigate.
The proposed rates will not be az
all confiscatory-w be more remur-
erative than under the pass system
which the Rio Grande inaugurated.
So much for the Commercial execu-
tives.
Leaving the rest of the proceedings
of the Colorado Springs meeting until
the next issue we will jump to the ac-
ton of the Colorado editorial associa-
ton in Denver on Monday the 18Th,
the association embracing some 300
members or newspapers Of the stat.
The same question was brought -
and unanimously adopted, committee
being apointed to draft measure and
see that the proper number of nam-i
are obtained to place it on the balits
this fall. In this connection the action
of the Commercial executives was
solely in the interests Of the general
public while the newspaper men may
be charged with some pique in the
premises in that the railroads of the
state have practically cut out all adve-
Using since the abolition of passes.
Why the railroads have done this, no
one can explain, but whether from
absolutely honest motives or from
pique, the newspapers are in the fight
to help Colorado people obtain their
just rights from the railroads. SO
far as the Herald is concerned, it can
not be charged with pique because
this paper advocated the abolition f
passes providing the railroads would
reduce the passenger fares according
lily. The passes were abolished but
the rates remain the same, hence we
can enter honestly into the fight to
secure relief. Once presented to the
voting public it will carry with
whoop, and the courts have ruled that
the legislatures and the people have
a right to pass such measures.
In reviewing the rates charged It
was in long distance fares. We should
have taken up local rates which are
five cents per mile. 1t costs s225 -
go to Silverton at present. Under
the three cent rate the fare will be
S1,35 which will mean double the
travel. The fare to Pennington will
be reduced nearly half. The railroads
say the three cent rate is already in
vogue. Yes, providing you buy
! thousand mile mileage book. No one
that is not travelling a good deal
wants to tie up $50 and the average
person is not able to do so because the
mileage books are good only for one
individual. If the company was ut
all liberal and permitted the mem
bers of ones family to use the book
| it would be different, but each in
dividual must buy book and if it
is not used at the expiration of a
year a new book has to be purchased
to secure the benefit of the unused
mileage. The railroads would save
themselves many legislative restric-
H.
ing public some considerations. The
Herald has no desire to injure any
business through legislation. In fact,
this paper opposed the legislature pas
sing two and three cent mileage
act during its recent seccion, stating
the roads should be given an oppor-
tunity of making the reduction volun-
tarily which almost everyone believed
would be the case with the doing away
of passes, but not move has been
made and it is now up to the people
to act. The San Juan Congress and
the Durango board of trade endeavor-
ed to obtain some concessions for
this section last March. A thousand
mile book was asked for at the rate
of S25 good on the Rio Grande South
ern the same as on the main branches
and also good for any member of the
family. The d. & r. G. officials
were asked to give a low homeseek-
er's rate to the San Juan basin towns.
The company was also asked to book
through passengers east and west via
Alamosa, Durango and the Rio Grande
Southern to Grand Junction when
such request was made with stop
over privileges, the excess fare for
such routing being in the neighbor-
hood of $40. Placed on an equal basis
thousands of tourists and investors
would come this way. 1t is doubtful
if any of the requests received a see
ond thought after presentation. There
fore, there is nothing to do but take
the bull by the horns and do something
for ourselves