The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-22
City Railroad and Omnibus Fares-A Stage
Propriet0r's View or the Question.
TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALD

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
NEW York, Dec. 20, 1858.
In the HKRAID Of the l9th instant appears a comman-
cation tho signature OF Traveller" denouncng the
imposition practised by the city railroad companies in
maintaining their fare five cents, when according 70
his views they could realize "a profit of forty per cent at
rate Of three cents fare" "Tne stage lines" he OBJ
serves shave reduced their fare instances
cent-n otherstwo cents. Why" he inquiries 'canno the
cars do as muchY'
Your correspondent no doubt feels severely asgreved
when he has five cents exacted from him for every car
ride he necesstted 70 take; and his communication
may induce the same feeling in others, viii him
and them by way Of consolation, that they by no
means AZ badly 1eeced ~ he appears to imagine.
City railroads cannot dividends at lower rate Of
fare than five cents stage lines cannot be permanent
ly and probably maintained at ess fare than six cents
"The popular opinion that reduction N rates leads 10
increased business and enlarged receipts is rarely
true" temporary advantage 10 the pubic may prove
a great injury To owners stockholders.
with call attention TO few facts calculated TO undeceve
correspondent and those who may have adopted his
The Comptroller the city of New York required
by the Common Council by resolution passed January
L. 1854 50 ascertain the value Of the Sixth and Eighth
Avenue Railroad property and also the expense oi run
ming the same with view OF reducing the fare 10 three
cents secretaries the railroad companies
furnished statements the Comptroller by which ap
pears that cost the Sixth Avenue Company three sc 100
cents, the Third avenue, three 1900, and the Second
avenue three SIS 100 cents per passenger. In the
pense accounts given by the secretaries there are no
Tor interest depreciation, the latter OF which, as
Sixth Avenue Company wrote TO the Mayor, year after
this, that the road not profitable, having earned
dividend Of only three and half per cent in thirteen
months These companies would have fonnd, had they
included in their expense the items of interest
and depreciation carrying passengers
than four cents each.
IT was shown by correspondent Of the Herald (ec.
l. 1864 that the Brooklyn city railroads, then running
four cents losing from $500 10 5000 weekly The
four consolidated Brooklyn roads together less by
$500 COO than il required 10 complete tho Third
road in New York. and although these roads were
managed with the greatest economy anu had opposition
to encounter they could not pay at four cents. They
compelled 10 ask PERMISSION Of the city fathers TO
raise their fare TO i've cents, which was granted The
President Of these roads stated that the depreciation OF
property operating the ten eleven miles OF road there
constructed $4,000 per annum In view OF these
facts, how be supposed that stage line be
maintained four cents9 The four experiment
tried three four years ago by several Of the
'oast siden lines. resulted the withdrawal Of one Of
them, when the others resumed the cent fare The
struggle going between the three lines that
running four cents must end in compromise conso
dalton the withdrawal OF OF the lines when the fare
will again to six cents, which is the lowest figure
at which staging be made to pay A stage line
only be profitable at i've cents until competing
lines reduce their fare 10 the rates These all
sary become losers and in the contest which ensues the
heaviest purse must triumph.
STAGE PROPRIETOR.