Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-27
CUT IN CABLE FARES.
The Citizens Line Makes it a
Nickel ALI the Way.
TO BEGIN NEXT SATURDAY.
Colonel Rice Gives the Reasons for
Making the Reduction.
FIFTH AVENUE PEOPLE TO MEET.

The people who travel upon the Penn
avenue cable cars were agreeably surprised
yesterday to see posted up, in the end of
every red car large card, notifying patrons
that on and after February 1, 1890, the fare
for the entire line would be only five cents.
The cards were put up yesterday morning,
in each one of the red cars, before they lett
the car house at the East End. No cards
were displayed in the yellow cars, which
run out Butler street. The fare for the full
trip over that line has always been only FIVE
cents.
The talk among the stockholders and di-
rectors of the Citizens Traction Company
in favor of this reduction for the East Lib
erty trip has been going on for over six
months. The reduction was agitated in
THE DISPATCH for nearly year, and met
with the quick approval of the stockholders.
The owners of the Citizens line are nearly
all residents of Plttsburg, and, beyond their
natural desire TO receive dividends, they
have the interest of the city at heart. AT
meeting of the stockholders held last Octo-
Der the question of reducing the long-trip
fare was discussed. The prevailing senti-
meut favored the reduction, as it was shown
that the through or 10-cent business of that
road was a very small part OF the whole
business DONE The stockholders finally de-
cided to leave the matter to the judgment of
the Board of Directors.
Ii November last the directors decided to
inaugurate the reduction on February 1.
The matter was kept very quiet, except that
it leaked out that a reduction was In con-
temptation. The notice of yesterday morn
ing came, therefore, as a genuine surprise,
and welcome one.
DECIDED TWO MONTHS AGO.
The Chief Engineer of the Citizens Trac-
ton Line, Colonel George Rice, said yester-
day: This reduction of the fare from one
end of the town to the other, was decided
upon some time ago. 1 was for it from the
first, but, OF course, had no vote. 1t was
done because it was the right thing to do"
"Was it done to enable the line to COM
pete, in better shape, with the Pennsylvania
Railroad?"
'fOh, no. 1t simplifes our business. It
will not affect the revenues any. Our 10
cent business was very small compared with
our whole business. You see, our Scent
fare went very close to East Liberty. Be-
yond Black Horse hill, where the Allegheny
Cemetery ronts on Penn avenue, and to
which point cents will carry you from
the downtown end of the road, there is very
little travel as far as East Liberty. Between |
Pearl street and East Liberty the road is |
not built up much. The Fifth avenue line |
has a great deal more through travel than |
we have, as their nickel.far carries a pas
senger only to Oakland, about halfway to |
the East End. I know nothing about the |
intentions of the Pittsburg Traction Com
pany, but we do not expect that they will
cut down to five cents. "
A REDUCTION POSSIBLE
The Pittsburg Traction Company, at least |
two months ago, made cut of their through |
fare to s cents. A passenger who pays cash |
on the car is charged cents between two |
points on opposite sides OF Oakland, but g. |
cent tickets can be bought at the various
Offices of the company.
Colonel George w. Elkins, President of
the Pittsburg Traction Company, was seen
at his residence last night by DISPATCH
reporter, and questioned as to whether any
action had been taken by the directors rela-
tive TO a reduction OF rates. He said briefly:
Nothing has been determined on yet nor
can I give any definite information as to
what will be done. There will be, however,
a meeting of the directors held tomorrow or
next day for the purpose of discussing the
advisability of the change, and deciding
the NATTER
Mr. EIkins declined TO say ANYTHING as to
what he thought his road would do. The
people who live beyond the Forks OF the
road on Penn avenue are jubilant over the
reduction on the Citizens line,
MR. MAGEE's OPINION.
Mr.. c. L. Magee, who is a minority stock
holder in the Pittsburg Traction Company,
was asked last night if it were likely that
that company would reduce the through
fare to a nickel. He replied that he was not
in a position to speak positively, but he
thought no reduction would be made.
Some months ago, when the subject of re-
duction in fares was agitated in the press,
Mr.. Magee expressed himself in favor OF the
reduction. The owners of q majority of the
stock, who live in Philadelphia, could not
see the matter in the same light.
Al that time a gentleman connected with
the Pittsburg Company said that a reduc-
tion on the Citizens line would not affect
the Fifth avenue line. The actual competi-
ton between the two roads is exceedingly |
small. Very few people, out of the whole
number of the patrons of the lines ride from |
the downtown end clear to East Liberty.
Nearly all those who ascend Fifth avenue
car down town descend at points before
Shady avenue is reached. Many of those
who will get out of a car at East Liberty are
people who got aboard at points east of the
Court House. Toe Citizens line people
think, however, that the small amount of {
through travel which does 90 over the route.
will come almost entirely to their road and
for the few nickels they would
otherwise lose.