[Northern Pacific Railway Correspondence and Maps]

The difficulties of obtaining a refund in the late 19th century!

This collection of correspondence and accompanying documentation relates a minor affair between a disgruntled customer and employees of the Northern Pacific Railway. E.H. Snowden purchased two second-class fares from along the line Groton, S.D. to Tacoma, WA in late 1897. The ticket agent advised him to travel through Portland, which would be the same price and offer a free stopover in the city. However, the train between Portland and the final destination (where the baggage was sent) was delayed, necessitating additional expense ($12.50) for which Snowden was requesting a refund. Upon inquiry, the guilty employee promptly confessed in one of the letters, and the refund was dutifully paid according to the included check stub.

Perhaps the most interesting element of the group can be found on the verso of one of the letters and the telegram. These feature a map of the western United States that highlights the route of the Northern Pacific Railway atop the back of a Pointer. For those who are less familiar with hunting, a pointer is a type of bird dog encompassing several different breeds. They get their name from using their body and muzzle to point in the direction of game birds, after which the hunter is then able to maneuver into position for a shot. By “pointing” travelers with questions about the West in the direction of a passenger agent in Minnesota, the Northern Pacific Railway was hoping to boost ridership on its line connecting the Twin Cities and Duluth to Seattle.