The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-07
FARES GO TO FIVE CENTS.
THE TRACTION COMPANY's IN
CREASE IN EFFECT TODAY.

President Johnston VIII Recommend
the same Increase on the City and
Suburban Lines-nOth Companies
Tired OF 3-Cent Fares-The Trans
fer Question VIII BE Drought Up
with the Increase of Fares-A Bet
ter Service Demanded.
Savannah's era of cheap street railway
fares appears to be at an end. For over
two years the people of Savannah have
been riding for cents a ride, and for
some time after the fight between the
two street railway corporations begun
fares were down to cent. The companies
had a longer experience Of 1-cent fares
than they really cared for and the ex-
pertinent will hardly be repeated.
For two years the fares on all the
street railway lines have been at cents,
with the exception of the big belt of the
Electric railway, now the Savannah Trac-
ton Company.
The traction company announces in to-
days Morning News that fares on all
its lines will hereafter be 5 cents. The
traction company has the longest lines,
and naturally finds the higher fares more
increase in fare, and doubtless the true
one, given by officials of the traction
company yesterday is that the people
who have purchased the property want to
make something on their investment.
1--WE can't make improvements and
furnish new cars with 3-cent fares" said
Supt Mcfarland
THE announcement of a raise in the
car fares was rather sudden and unex-
pected at this time, said President john
ston of the City and Suburban, though
we have expected there would be a raise
in fares in the near future. When fares
went up from l cent to cents in 1885, we
raised them. too. and there is no reason
why we should not do so now, though I
cannot tell yet just what will be done.
They say they have had enough of it, and
l may say also that we have had enough
of it. l will have to correspond with my
people first, and ] shall recommend that
fares on our lines be raised to cents, too.
/ have no doubt that they will readily as
sent and when I hear from them 1 shall
order the fares raised at once"
1T is said the raise in fares was the
result of some agreement between the two
companiesY' was suggested
IF there has been any such thing talk
ed Of" Capt Johnston said, ut has not
transpired so far as l know. The two
companies will go on, each on its own
is perfectly agreeable to US. We could
not consistently start it, but under the
circumstances we are ready to fall into
it,"
All knowledge of a deal with the Par
sons lines for a general increase in fares
was denied by the official of the trac-
ton company.
Managing director Hartman of the City
and Suburban stated some time ago that
there was no likelihood of fares on the
Abercorn and Whitaker street lines ever
going back to 5 cents. He considered 3
cents a sufficient fare for short lines, and
the policy of the company, he said would
be against any increase above that.
With the increase of fares on the trac-
ton company's lines there is a strong
probability that the company will be
forced under the law to transfer passen-
gers between the big belt and the Price
and Barnard street lines. Heretofore the
company has claimed the lines
were operated separately, and it
could not be compelled to
transfer passengers. The company will
probably also be compelled to comply with
the city ordinances under which electric
roads are operated The patrons of the
company have been compelled to put up
with almost anything in the way of cars
and schedules for two years and now that
fares are increased a better service will be
demanded and the requirement as to
transfers will be enforced.