HOW “SCALPERS” MAKE MONEY.
Glasgow, Ohio.
1. How can “scalpers” sell tickets at lower rates than railroad companies? 2. Did Senator Wade vote for the impeachment of President Johnson?
D. M. McIntosh.
Answer.—The following are some of the many ways in which “scalpers” or ticket-brokers supply themselves with tickets that they can afford to sell at a reduction from the regular prices and still make a profit: 1. They purchase at a discount partly-used through tickets between the large cities, from travelers getting off at intermediate cities and way stations. As the fares between the prominent Eastern and Western railroad centers are usually proportionately lower than to way stations, where there is no competition, travelers often find that they can purchase through tickets at such prices as make it more economical for them to get such tickets and sell the unused mileage to the scalpers, even at a considerable discount, than to pay full way-passenger rates. Second—During excursions many persons use but half of a ticket, and sell the “return” to the “scalpers” at a discount on full rates. Third—In railroad wars they can buy quantities of tickets cheap to retail later, the railroad companies selling tickets in large quantities at such times to speculators, who transfer them to “scalpers” to sell at their convenience, when the war is ended and rates have increased. Fourth—Sometimes, while a railroad company is bound by contract not to sell at less than a specified rate, it will offer to “scalpers” a commission large enough to enable them to undersell the regular ticket agents, who are bound by the agreements entered into between railroad companies to sell only at fixed prices. 2. He did.
LIBERIA.
Vinton, Iowa.
Please give the principal facts in the history of Liberia.
A Reader.