National Affairs: Empty Uppers

Pullman travel in 1929 took its worst slump in five years. Though the company operated more cars (8,842), more miles (1,206,767,059) than ever before the number of passengers (33,434,268) fell off 2,638,943 from the five-year peak. The average Pullman passenger traveled 420 miles on each trip last year, 25 miles further than he did in 1925. But where 13 people rode in each Pullman car in 1925, only 11 people rode in 1929. Result: many more empty upper berths.

Last week Pullman Co. announced a plan to help compensate itself for the loss of a million and a half berth passengers On May 1 it will reduce its rates 22% on sections (upper and lower berths combined). It hopes single passengers, to get privacy by day, air and space by night, will buy sections instead of lowers, thus supply revenue from otherwise empty profitless uppers. Present section rate New York-Chicago: $16.20. New section rate: $12.60.