Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-11-20

NEW YORK, Nov. 19.-Cnarles
Frederick Carter, railroad historian
author of "When Railroads Were
New" big Railroading,' ETC., in re-
cent speeches before commercial and
social organizations in eastern cities
extolled the charms of western Amer
ica and described interestingly his
own impressions on sightseeing trip
to the Pacific coast.
Mr.. Carter, representing the New
York Central lines speakers bureau
boosted travel to the west. particu-
larly the delights of visits to the
national parks. Addressing the Ro-
tary club of Rome, N. Y, on Novem-
ber 3, 1927, Mr.. Carter spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr. President, Members of the Ro-
tary club of Rome and guests:
AS we have just finished an excel
lent luncheon suppose we shall not
be able to eat anything more for a
few hours. But if we can't eat, we
can talk about eating which is the
next best thing. Speaking of eating
suggests dining cars. A great deal
of eating must be done on these
restaurants on wheels, for they serve
some 5O,000,000 meals annually.
A meal in dining car is always
sweetened by the comforting reflec-
ton that we do not have to pay for
all we get in food and service. Items
on the check may tally with the
prices on the menu, but it isn't all
there. Sworn reports to the inter-
state commerce commission show that
the railroads of the United States
sustained an actual loss of $6,776, 900
on dining car service in 1926
Feeding passengers at less than
cost may seem to be poor business;
but on second thought one realizes
that railroad management may know
a thing or two, if not more. A
plausible hypothesis.upy which. TO ac-
count for dining car policy might run
something like this:
1. The great American ambition is
to save up money enough to go
somewhere.
Q. The idea in going somewhere is
to get something good to eat.
g. If they get it they will go
again.
A. Going is good for the railroads.
So it happens that Whereer you
roam in this broad land you may
count on finding dining car at
tached to the train about the time
you begin to feel hungry. BY the
same token, about the time you are
drowsy enough to go to bed you will
find your berth in the sleeping car
ready
Under such circumstances, in these
days of general prosperity, when there
are so many delightful places to go,
it is hard to find a legitimate excuse
for staying at home. In fact, travel
ing expenses are so moderate that
one really cannot afford to stay at
home
Passengers are always welcome on
the railroads; but during vacation
season special marked-doWn trips are
offered. on the bargain counter You
see railroad policy is the antithesis
of that on transatlantic steamship
lines. Steamships put prices up dur
ing the busy season, railroads mark
them down. These reduced rate trips
are actually better than new because
it is only during summer that some
of the most attractive national parks
are open, while summer is the pleas
antest time of year to go anywhere.
In this favored season it is possible
to lay out tour to suit any taste
at extremely moderate cost. When I
say moderate COST" mean exactly
that. Perhaps a few comparisons
may accentuate the point.
For example, starting from New
York City, one may go by way OF
Niagara Falls, stopping over there if
desired, Chicago, st. Paul, to Seattle,
125 miles from the. British Columbia
boundary line, thence down the en-
tire length of the Pacific coast by
way of San Francisco and Los An
geleS to San Diego, Is miles from
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