Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-31
A LOCAL DECREASE.

Pennsylvania Passenger Earnings TO East
Liberty Fall Of S2O. O.OOO-CabIe Roads
Cutting In-LOases Balanced by Big In
creases at Other Places.
Colonel Thomas E. Watt. District Passenger
Agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad, yesterday
completed his annual report of the passenger
business done during 1889 between this city and
Harrisburg. 1t contains an interesting array
OF figures in connection with the heavy increase
in the sale of tickets, and also shows to what
extent the cable cars have hurt the suburban
business OF the company.
The report is carefully tabulated statement
of the receipts of each station, including the
downtown Office of the company at the corner
of Fifth avenue ana Smithfeld street. 1t COW
ers every station on the Pittsburg and Altoona
divisions, but does not include Harrisburg.
There are go stations altogether. Among the
many peculiar features shown is an increase of
nearly $50, 0OO at Johnstown. The cause of this
is said to be due to the Conemaugh flood.
The total sales for the year amounted to So
454, ,608 II. OF this amount 81 06,258 O8 was re-
ceived for foreign business, or points on other
railroads and 81 348 345 03 for local or bust
ness on their own line. In 1888 the local sales
were 81 l4l. .5S4 so and the foreign ST. 0l7 006 49,
This shows there was an increase of S8y. 251 So
in the foreign and $206 80 % in the local busi-
ness. The total increase in both was $685.
061 50.
"A
sales amounted to Sl.5l9, ,6C2 6S. In 1888 the re-
ceipts we're 81. .464 OIL 13 This is an increase of
S100,613 SO over 1888. At the Fifth avenue office
the sales for the year amounted to S4S3.62 SO.
During the year previous they footed up $438,-
538 IS. This is an increase of S45 0S2 o.
At JohnstoWn the receipts were $50 646 75 for
foreign business and S97. lib II for local In
1888 the foreign sales footed up s4l 40 IL or an
increase of 1895 So for 1889. The local sales
amounted to $97, lib II during 1889 and S60391 Is
for the previous year, or an increase of $50,
722 SIS. 1t will be seen that the greatest in
crease is on local business, and was for the last
By comparing the report with that of the
previous year, decrease of $40, 634 is seen at
the East Liberty station. At Shadyside there
was also decrease of S. .693 q. These are the
only stations between Pittsburg and Harris
burg where there was decrease. The cause
of it was undoubtedly due to the cable cars.
One of the lines began operations in Septem-
Der, 1888, and for the last three months of that
year the railroad company's business decreased
Is per cent between East Liberty and the
Union station.
At the other suburban stations there was a
heavy increase. At Braddock it amounted to
Sl4, $50 IS; at Swissvale 1923 81; Homewood,
S42l So; Williamsburg, S6,S72 30. A close calcu-
latlon will show that what the company lost by
the cable lines they more than made up by the
increased business at other stations
AS yet the company has taken no notice of
the reduction in fares on the cable lines. In
stead of the fare being z cents as stated yes
GeTuay, II is only Genus DeLWeen En6 mon
station and East Liberty on monthly tickets
The company would reduce the fare to meet
the reduction on the cable lines were it not for
the danger Of having to reduce the rates all
over the line. If the rate per mile is reduced
at Pittsburg, the suburban residents of Phlla-
delphia will also likely petition for reduction.
Then, again, if the rate between Pittsburg and
East Liberty was changed, the rates to points
as far east as Greensburg would also have to
be changed. BY putting trains on that will not
stop between the Onion station and East Lib
erty, it is expected the company will be enabled
to hold the business. The time Of the trains
would be seven or eight minutes.