Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-19
CHEAP AS WALKING.
The Pittsburg Traction Company Re-
iterates Its Intention
TO FURNISH THREE.CENT RIDES.
Awaiting the Advent of the Duquesne Line
to Begin the Fight.
CITIZENS PEOPLE WILL BE LOOKERS-ON

The question of reduction of street car
fares on the lines to East Liberty is again
being discussed, and many expected to see
the reduction announced yesterday on ac-
count of the annual meetings of the Pitts
burg and Citizens Traction companies. Ihe
Fifth avenue line was expected to make
reduction because the Duquesne Traction
Company was invading its territory, but the
Secretary vouchsafed the information tnat
the question was not even mentioned.
Yesterday DISPATCH reporter called at tne
office of President George W. Elkins. OF the
Pittsburg Traction Company. and interrogated
him as to the action of the company at It's meet
ing, and why the question of a reduction IN rave
was not decided. In reply he said:
THE question was not raised because 1t was
not necessary. That matter has been settled,
and there will be a reduction to cents within
a few weeks"
"How were the receipts of the company the
past year, compared with the year preVlousF"
was asked.
THE receipts were somewhat increased and
we attribute it in the main to the reductlon we
made from l0-cent to scent fares. Inc gen
eral affairs of the company are In e1ceheh1
shape. and, on the whole better than ever be-
fore"
This shows wherein the last reduction proved
OeHenclal to the company, Wnen many Ol Gue
street car me had predicted it bad move.
However, the officials of the company will not
say that they expect the next reduction TO
prove equally as successful.
Mr.. c. L. Magee President of the Duquesne
Traction Company did not appear surprised
when told that the Fifth avenue line would
show fight but said positively that 1t would be
entirely one-sided, as the Duquesne will not go
below the 5-cent rate Mr.. Magee expected to
leave last night for the East, but it is nut known
whether on business connected with the affairs
of the Duquesne Company or not. Both the
Vice President and Secretary Of the company
are already in New York, and there may be
meeting there to further the success of the new
enterprise.
There is evidently no intention on the part OF
the Citizens Traction line to enter the fight for
patronage to East Liberty, at least that Is the
opinion at present held by the Secretary.
I'VE don't consider the Fifth avenue line
rivals of our line," said that gentleman yester-
day. ''Of course. we start at the same place
and in the end get to the same place,
but we go over entirely different territory,
and their reduction of fares will not affect us.
don't see how we could.afford to reduce fares.
Do people want to ride for nothing? The fact
that we increased our earnings by a reduction
to cents does not prove that still further re-
duction would benefit US. So far as l know
there has not even been any talk of reduc-
tion; at least, not in any of the board meet
iDgs. Some of the members of the board might
have discussed the matter privately, but it has
never been mentioned at an official meeting of
the stockholders or board of directors"