Arizona republican., 1907-07-22
PHOENIX. ARIZ-, JULY %, 1907.
BRITISH STREET CAR SYSTEMS.

There appears in this issue the di- vided opinion of two members of committee appointed by the National Civic Federation tc investigate the ef
 feet of the municipalizstion of Brit ish tramways. In an opinion against municipalization a comparison is made between publicly owned and privately owned systems and also between both British systems and the pri- vately owned systems of this coun- try. While it is found that the first comparison is in favor of the privately owned British tramways. 1t is also found that the latter are inferior in service to American street railways. a fact due to the shadow of muni- ctpaIization thrown over British pri- yate ownership and to political con di;ions.
 This fact may profitably be taken in connection with an argument made in a report last week in favor of mu- picipal ownership by a member of National Civic Federation committee.
 While it might not be necessary or even advisable to apply municipaliza- tion it would always be a useful club to swing over the heads of private corporations and keep them at their best Passing over the astounding proposition that it can ever be inad- yisable to adopt the best thing We are shown by the present report, how the swinging Of the club does not result !n the extension and development of British street car systems.
 In this matter of tramways. the member of the committee who advo- csies municipalization objects to any comparison between the municipalized British and the privately owned Amer iean tramways. though he himself in- aulSes in one such comparison which without explanation favcrs the British system. That is that a fare in Great Britain not only entities a passenger to a seat but actually provides one for him. He further finds that the aver age fare is lower by cent in Great Britain than in this country. At that point, however he desires to shut off further comparison and explanation.
 But it is brought out by the advo- cate of private ownership that the wages of employees in Great Britain are only half as great as those of sim liar employees in this country. so that |. the British scale of wages were adopted on this side the cost of run ming the average American system would be only 3S per cent of its gross receipts. It is further pointed out that Ihe American system of transfers probably reduces the average fare in ihis country to or below the average | British fare. It is further pointed out that Amer ! lean street car systems are employed l with foresightedness for the develop | ment of cities and their suburbs; that they are run far beyond centers cf
  tricts penetrated by them will become heavily populated. In British cities | this is not the case. There tramways 1 run only through denseIy populated | districts; they contribute no cost to development and take nc risk They | might therefore in these circumstances | afford a lower fare
 The most interesting thing in the l review is a comparison of the methods ! of the two committeeman. The one | takes facts as he finds them and so 1 presents them. The other deals in i improved theories, presents such mes ger facts as support his theories and | ignores the rest.