The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-12
ALL FARES NOW FIVE CENTS.
THE INCREASE IN EFFECT ON THE
PARSONS LINE TODAY.

Stu Current-ManaEing Director
HarrImah Has Little TO Say-The
city and Suburban Lines Resume
Trnnsfers-An Improved Service
Looked For With the Increase in
Fares.
The day of Scent car fares ended
last night Beginning with to-day a ride
TO any part Of the city on any of the lines
will cost cents.
President Johnston of the City and Su-
burban and savannah Thunderbolt and
Isle of Hope lines announces this morning
that the customary" fare or cents
is restored on his lines.
The custom was one which the people of
Savannah had no desire to see restored.
They had accustomed themselves to g.
cent fares and were getting along nicely.
When the fares were first reduced TO 3
cents many people were inclined to regard
the matter lightly and many voted the
little coppers a nuisance. They soon be-
came accustomed to the change, however,
and the few cents saved was soon esu-
mated in the days expenditures. On the
other hand many people, who were ac-
customed 10 estimate the nickel as the
lowest currency OF Importance NOAAd III
hesitatingly give up cents for
short ride whereas otherwise they would
have considered it economy to keep the
nickel. Apparently the stCeet cars have
been more generally patronizd since the
Scent fares went into effect. Wheth-
er the increased patronage has been suf-
ficient to make up for the decreased fares
is another question. Judging from the
action of the railroads this is not the case.
1t is not generally believed, however, that
the City and Suburban has lost any mon
ey by Scent fares.
When Managing Director Collins of the
Savannah Traction Company announced
last week that fares had been raised to
cents on the lines of that company 1t was
believed that there was an understand
ing with the opposition lines, which would
result in fares being increased on those
lines also Managing Director J. n. Har-
riman Of the Parsons lines, has been in
the city a couple of days and, after
conference with President Johnston, the re-
suit appears in the announcement by TIE
latter this morning.
The harmony with which the street rail-
way companies have acted in making the
increase in fares looks very much as If
there might be deal on foot, if one has
not already been made. Mr.. George Par
sons who controls the City and Suburban
and Savannah, Thunderbolt and Isle of
Hope properties, has been in Augusta for
some time, and there is a rumor that he
and Managing Director Collins of the Sa-
vannah Traction Company had a confer
ence just before Mr.. Collins made the an
nouncement of the increase in fares on the
Traction Company's lines. Mr.. Parsons is
expected in Savannah this week. Mr.. J.
II. Fan of Nashville vice president of the
Savannah Traction Company, arrived at
the De Soto a day or two ago Mr.. Har-
.s,, 10 ra,I1r aaHa
preventative in these matters, is also at
the De Soto. He was seen
last night but had very lit
tie to say. At the time the fares went to
cents on the Abercorn and Whitaker
street lines, Mr.. Hartman stated that
there was no likelihood of their ever go
ing back to cents. He said he regarded
cents a suffi cient fare on these lines.
Mr. Hartman was then directing Mr. Par
sons fight on the Electric railway.
With the resumption of 5-cent fares the
public Will expect and will naturally ex-
act a better service than has been given
on some of the lines. The Traction COM
pany's lines, some of them, have afforded
an unsatisfactory service for a long time.
When the property was reorganized some
time ago it was announced that all of the
lines would be put in repair that new
cars would be put on and an improved
service given. With 5-cent fares the ques-
ton of transfers also arises. President
Johnston announces that all transfers will
be resumed On the Parsons lines. The
Collins company has always refused
transfers between the Belt and the Price
street and Barnard street lines
With the Increase in fares by the street
railway companies the demand for one
cent pieces viii naturally decrease. Pre-
vious TO the reduction in fares coppers
were but little used as change in Savan-
nah, and there were many people, who de-
cared they would never prove popular.
People soon became accustomed TO them,
however, and the average citizen came 10
regard the presence of a few pennies in
his pocket as the natural and proper thing.
With the cents left out of a nickle
after paying street car fare, a postage
stamp could be bought, or with nickle
and a copper a friends fare could be paid
also for practically what 1t costs for one
fare now. As the candy stores and corner
fruit stands do not cater to any extent to
the 1-eent trade. coppers may go out
of fashion and the nickle again become
the unit OF value, practically, in small ex-
penditures. The cheap car fares and the
use of cOppers has been big lesson in
money-saving, however, which the peo-
pie are at liberty to forget.
There Is one class Of people who will re-
Joice at the new order Of things and that
is the street car conductors. They will
no longer have to make change with prac-
tcally every fare received, but can rely on
getting a nickel for fare two times out OF
three. one effect, however, will be to in
crease the value of bicycles to their own
ers. The possessor Of a bicycle who for
merly saved TO y cents day In street
car fares by using the wheel instead, will
now save 10 10 20 cents a day in the same
manner
Summer is the season Of heavy travel
with the street railroads, and for the next
few months they will reap a harvest with
5 cent fares. They had that in mind in
making the increase at the beginning of
summer. Another argument which
weighed with the railroad men is that the
greater the number Of passengers carried
the greater the liability to accidents with
consequent suits for damages. Even ~ re-
ceipts were the same with Scent fares as
az cents the net profits. they figured,
we're likely TO be less on account OF the
prospect Of more damage suits. The lat
ter always form a considerable item I'm the
calculation Of the net earnings of a street
railroad.
THE NELLIE SMITHS SURVIVORS