The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-02
BENEFITS OF NEW
 PASSENGER FARES
Nv HOLLAND


 high prices for various commidties tail buying excepting in those cases where food regulations limit the quan- tity that can be purchased at any one time by any one person, nevertheless, there are already detected some rather curious effects of the increased prices. especially railroad fares and the charge for first-class postage. How it may be be disclosed, but in New York, it is understood, in Philadelphia and Boston the recent increase in railroad pas senger fares has resulted in con siderable falling off in local traffic. That is not true of communities which are within only a few miles of the large mercantile business centers. But are situated 30 miles or more from these centers.
 If there be falling off in a part of the passenger revenue gained by the railroads which is traceable to the increase in fares, on the other hand business men in small communities are already discovering that they are to be benefited. More and more the fn- habitants of small villages which are situated 30 miles or more from large cities made a habit of going now and then to the cities in order to do their domestic shopping This was due to low railroad fares The storekeepers in these small towns have complained that the attractions and opportunities which the large cities offer have tempt ed the home dwellers in their communi- ties away from the local shops
 But now it has been observed since the increase in railroad fares was put into effect that the business of the shoplzeepers in the small towns has in- creased There may be saving of from 40 to 50 cents upon a round trip, If 8 shopper choose to buy at home instead 'of taking a railroad train to large city Although this may be small amount. nevertheless it will serve well for the purchase of little commodities of household use
 The small shopkeepers are greatly pleased, feeling assured that more and more the towns people will patronize the home shops. especially in cases where there can be a considerable sav- ing in railroad fares
 Yet on the whole the department stores in New York and in the other large business centers report a satis- factory summer business In New York there is estimated to be a very large number, perhaps as many as 100000, who >are making temporary sojourn here and who are doing a good deal of shopping in the department stores. The lower priced commodities find a fairly ready market in comparison with the articles which are now re- tailed at high cost. Nevertheless there seems to be no great curtailment of purchases of these articles. How it will be later on in the year and how the next Liberty Loan and other meth- ods by which money is withdrawn from cumstomary use in order to aid the government will affect the situation re- mains to be determined.
 THE POSTAL PROBLEM
 According to reports. not official. but apparently fairly well authenticated the increase of one cent for postage upon a postcard has served greatly to decrease the demands for these cards. One of the reports, which may or may not be fairly accurate, states that the sale of postcards has fallen off 75 per cent. since under the new law an additional one-cent postage stamp is needed if the card Is to be forwarded through the mails to the address writ ten upon it. If that estimate be true or even partially true, it will result not in an increase of revenue, but in- stead decrease in revenue.
 What effect the increase of first class letter postage from two cents to three cents will have upon the revenue is not yet known, but it is the impress sion that there has already been some falling off in the number of letters now mailed as compared with the number mailed when the rate was two cents. If the Postmaster General later on should report that considerable fall ing off in the use of the mails for first-class letters has followed. the imposition of the one-cent additional stamp, then there will be fairly good proof of tho soundness of the reason ing which led Congress q little over 30 years ago to reduce the postage rate upon first-class matter from threc cents per ounce to two cents. MT. Hill, who represented New Jersey district in Congress in the administration of President Arthur, sponsored the agita- ton and led in the movement in Con- gress which had for it's purpose the decrease of letter postage from three cents to two cents. He was supported in his elaborate and very detailed arr gument by Thomas L. James, who at, that time or little earlier was Post master General. MT. James went so