The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-10-06
BUSINESS IS GOOD.
SECRETARY HOFFMAN OF THE
M. r. & x. TALKS.
1900 PASSENGERS PASS DAILY
Twelve Cars now Running Between Ke-
nosha and Milwaukee.-Road
to Milwaukee is to Be
Strengthened.

George F. Hoffman, of Cleveland,
Secretary and Treasurer of the Racine
& Kenosha Electric Railroad company,
in conversation with reporter of the
Milwaukee Sentinel said that line has
had big increase of business this year
over last. The company now has
twelve cars running constantly be-
tween Milwaukee and Kenosha.
Last year, you know" said Mr..
Hoffman, 4" was our trial year, but even
during the twelve first months that the
line was in operation the passenger
traffic indicated that the road would be
good investment for it's projectors.
The passenger traffic is paying the in
terest on the $3.50, 900 that we have in
vested, and lutte more. We now
contemplate going into KenOsha, and
are at work at present to secure a
franchise. The line now runs to the
city limits, ana from there bus takes
the peol lie into town; so that virtually
we are already into the city.
The business of this year warranted
our placing in service three additional
cars. The cars run from 6 O'Clock in
the morning until ! o'clock at night.
One of these cars is combination pas
senger and baggage car, good deal
like the smoker and baggage car COM
binatiOn formerly in use on the steam
railroads. Our franchise permits us to
carry freight, and we make a charge
for packages, dependent upon their
size. y
This freight traffic on Kenosha line
has not been developed sufficiently to
form material factor in its operation.
The source Of income is practically the
passenger business. A fare of 81 a
round trip, from Kenosha to milwaukee
with transfers to all parts Of Milwaukee
and 70 cents for the round trip to Ra-
cine, with the same transfer privileges,
is charged.
In round numbers the company has
carried, from June l to Sept. l, %, 600
persons. The heaviest traffic was in
July, when the company carried 10, 100
persons The Sunday business has
been as high as $500 passengers.
There wos often big business on hOli-
days, largely made up ofpicnic parties.
The establishment of the line has re-
suited in the opening of great many
parks along the route Wherever
there is a pretty wood, there is also to
be found alot of benches for seats, and
perhaps table of plain boards or
pavilion. Passengers may alight from
the cars at whatever point they elect.
This has made the road popular with
commercial travellers, who find it con-
venient to stop at the little towns in
the vicinity, transact their business
and in an hour or two hours, or any
hour they choose to be on their way
again, instead of making long waits for
the railroad. The average passenger
traffic for the entire year is about ], 200
to l, 800 passenger a day.
The Kenosha line is to be straight
ened, probably early next year, to
permit the making of the trip at higher
speed. The cars now run to Kenosha
in about one hour and a half. The
distance is about twenty-five miles,
around many curves
The question now agitating the peo-
pie of Kenosha is whether or not a
company doing such business should
be granted franchise to use the
streets of the city without making
some return for favors received.