The Price of Passage on Bellingham Bay

There has been considerable complaint of late against the officers of certain steamboats on account of the exorbitant charges made by them for passengers between Fairhaven and the other bay cities. A gentleman yesterday said that he had boarded one of the Union Pacific steamers and as soon as the steamer left the wharf, the purser demanded fares. The passenger, thinking the fare the same as that charged by the ferry boats, had proffered the usual ten cents. He was at once informed that the fare was fifty cents. He very naturally 'kicked,' but was told he must pay that amount. He subsequently refused and was put ashore at the Bellingham wharf, where he waited until the ferry boat made her run. On the same boat, three other passengers were charged twenty-five cents each to ride to Sehome. Why these boats charge as much for a ride of a mile here as is charged between Tacoma and Seattle is a little hard for one not versed in steamboating to understand.