N&W in 1907 -- 2 cent fare

[NW Mailing List]

Can someone shed light on this.  I can't believe that fares for any distance were actually only 2 cents, even one hundred years ago.  Was this a 2-cents per mile fare?

Sam Putney

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  From: NW Mailing List 
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  Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 11:09 PM
  Subject: N&W in 1907 -- 2 cent fare


  Bluefield Daily Telegraph
  October 2, 1907

  IN CITY AND COAL FIELD
  ------
  THE TWO-CENT FARE
  ------
      Yesterday the 2-cent railroad fare law in Virginia was observed for the first time by the Norfolk and Western railway.  It will be remembered that the law went into effect some time ago and the railroad has been selling tickets at the old rate, giving, by order of the court, a slip with each ticket which entitles the passenger to a rebate should the supreme court hand down a decision favorable to the state of Virginia.  The Norfolk and Western and other roads contended at the time the law went into effect that it was unconstitutional, and pending the decision of the supreme court they were permitted by the courts to charge the regular rate, provided that they have the rebate slips, which was done.
      Now that the Norfolk and Western has commenced to observe the 2-cent law they have practically admitted that the law is constitutional, although this does not mean that they will as yet cash in the rebate slips which they have been giving the past few months.  These slips will not be cashed until the decision of the court has been handed down, which may not be for some time.  The railroad company has not taken the present step without the advice of counsel, and there is little doubt that the decision of the court will be adverse to the railroads.
      A great many people who purchased tickets yesterday thought that they should receive the benefit of the 2-cent rate on tickets purchased for points in Virginia.  This cannot be done at present.  Although both Virginia and West Virginia have the 2-cent rate this does not mean that the interstate rate is two cents.  This 2-cent interstate rate will not go into effect until January 1st, 1908.  At the recent convention  of the general passenger agents, of the various lines throughout the United States, held in Chicago, it was decided that the interstate rate would be put into effect on that date.
      The only way for Bluefielders to secure the benefit of the new law is to purchase tickets to Glen Lyn, and then secure another ticket to the Virginia point to which they were to go.  In this way they will secure the 2-cent rate.  Of course this will cause some little inconvenience, but it is the only way to get the new rate.  This can only be done on local trains.  Tickets for Glen Lyn cannot be secured on trains which are not scheduled to stop at that point.

  Gordon Hamilton


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