The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-03
USUAL XMAS RUSH
Railroads Preparing to Handle
the Extra Business.
College Vacations an Important
Feature to the Roads.

Railroad passenger officials in To-
peka are expecting the usual Christ
mas rush of business this year. and
are looking for the increase in traffic
to commence between December 5
and 20 when most of the colleges the
country over will pour out thousands
of young men and women for the holt
day vacation. Already the roads are
making plans to have extra equipment
on all trains to the extent the travel
demands.
There are no reasons why there
should be an unusually large amount
of passenger traffic this Christmas
and neither are there any indications
now in sight that will be less than
usual, the officials say, which may be
classed as favorable for the railroads
inasmuch as business, both freight
and passenger, is rather light at this
time, especially short distance travel
~on the passenger trains.
Lack of local passenger traffic at
this time is being blamed to general
business conditions and the fact that
most of the commercial travellers
are off the road until after the Holt
days. There is one point on which
the officials are quite positive and that
is the increase in passenger rates to
3.6 cents per mile plus war tax, is not
in any way responsible for a lighter
run at this time and that the extra
charge will mot have a tendency o
hold down the rush during the Christ
mas season.
Mostly Short Trippers.
The higher rates will not affect the
holiday business, they say, because
when persons make - their minds
to spend Christmas IA the holidays
away ON home they are not going
to a. an extra charge of slightly
more Ian half a cent a mile interior.
Then, too, 1t is pointed out that few
persons make long trips at Christmas
time. The rush is made up by short
trippers who hurry out to spend a
day or two IN the old home town or
Aunt Mary's invitation to eat Christ
mas dinner with she and Uncle John
and Cousin Lou In Punkville or Quasi
Hollow. and usually the distance is
not far enough to make the amount |
of railroad fare significant. Hundreds |
of Topekans will flock out to towns |
within a radius of fifty miles to spend
this Christmas with relatives or
friends, and an equal number will re- |
place them by coming here. With |
everybody loaded down with packages
and extra hand baggage, it is the kind |
of business that is inclined to make |
trains late and fill the local and |
branch trains to capacity.
Train Facilities Improved.
All of the roads are in better shape |
now to handle an extra amount of !
travel than they have been for several !
winters Any condition brought about |
by the war has been removed SO far |
as passenger train service is con-
cerned. The roads during the past
year were able to get their equipment |
back on their own lines and all facil- |
tiles have been greatly improved. With |
plenty of good equipment the carriers /
are prepared to meet any demand for |
service and officials are promising |!
ample seat room for the holiday rush |
Handling college students going |
home for the holidays is always a big |
Job for the railroads because thew get |
a double whack at it. The colleges /
empty out their student masses a few |
days before Christmas and take them |
back again about the first of the year |
meaning double business for the rail- !
roads. The passenger departments of (
all the roads are in possession of lists |
showing the closing and opening dates |
of all the important colleges of the /
country and have had their agents (
lining up this business for several !
weeks. The Kansas roads make little |
scrap for the business coming from |
the schools in this state as it is dis !
tinctly their own, each road getting |
what belongs to its territory, but there |
is a keen competition for the long !
haul business from the big schools in |
the east
Quiet Spell for Engagement.
While the holiday season brings |
work and grief to ticket agents and |
train crew, it is a comparatively light |
period for the baggagemen, according |
to w. NJ. Parkinson, local baggage |
agent for the Union Pacific. The fact |
that most of the travel is of a local |
nature is largely responsible. Persons
going away a short distance TO spend |
Christmas as a rule do not have
trunks, he says. but carry their lug
gage in grips or handbags which they |
take in the car with them. Then, also, |
the commercial travellers with theic |
heavy trunks and sample cases are off |
the road between now and the first |
of the year which causes a notable |
decrease in the baggage business. Ex-
cess baggage. from which the rail- /
roads reap a. profit, is very slim during |
the holiday period, Parkinson says.