The Detroit times., 1908-07-31
CIVIC OWNERSHIP IS
PROVED SUCCESS
IN HULL
ENGLISH CITY MAKES MONEY
WITH ONE AND TWO-cENT
STREET RAILWAY FARES
CHEAP RATE IN MORNING.

HULL. Eng. July 3.-The posi-.
bilities OF municipal ownership OF
street railways. both as a financial
success and as boon TO patrons. are
being shown by the system In this
city.
The Hull resident, whose business
or pleasure takes him abroad between
the hours OF and 3 In the morning.
can now have a three-mile ride for
one cent. In no other city in the
country is travelling so cheap. The
reduction in fares in Hull commenced
July l. and IL Is intended TO be tried
as an experiment for six months.
No one, however, anticipates that at
the expiration OF that time the old
conditions will be reverted to.
The Hull street railways have been
In possession OF the municipality for
nine years. The amount expended on
them Is 100000, and up to the pres
ent time 100000 of profits or more
than Quarter OF the original expen-
diture has gone In relief OF rates. The
sum voted this year Is 100000 out Of
the net profits Of little less than
$685. 900. That, OF course, Is after
providing for sinking fund. interest
and other charges.
Private System Wrstehed.
There are six main roads upon
which cars run. and they vary from b
little over two miles to nearly three
miles In length. These all converge
on Victoria Square In the center Of
the city. In addition there Is a. short
route OF about half q mile from Vic
toria Square to the pier. This passes
through old Hull. and transfer tickets
are given from all other cars To this
route.
Up TO ten years ago Hull. In the
matter OF street railways. was In tho
hands OF a private company, with
single lines and horse cars. This sys-
tenn was a wretched one. and its
shortcomings brought into existence d
service Of wagonettes possibly un.
eQualled In any other large center. At
one time thousands OF wagonettes
piled for hire at penny fares. They
were a nondescript collection. Almost
every class Of passenger vehicle was
represented, including even the Irish
jaunting car. Locally they were
known as town way-ups" and penny
dangers" although owing to the per
feet fiatness OF Hull and the age OF
the horses. accidents were not unduly
frequent.
The private company was driven In
to liquidation by their competition. and
when the period Of It's license ex-
pired the City corporation decided to
install and run an electric system.
with double sets OF lines down all
main roads. There was a section Of
the council who favored q syndicate
being allowed to come In and run
the cars. but the Progressives won the
day. With 100000 Of the profits go
Ing yearly to the reduction Of the rates
no one Is ever heard nowadays to
refer to the attempt to hand the
roads over to a syndicate.
Everyone In Hull is an ardent mu-
nicipalist so far as street railways
and waterworks-anothe undertaking
which yields $4,000 profits to the
rates per year-are concerned. One
cent morning fares have not been
won without q struggle. Ever since
the initiation of the system cheaper
fares for the working classes have
been contended for by the Labor mem
bers and other Progressives. Last
year the Labor party carried a resolu-
ton by narrow majority that riders
should be able to travel along two
routes for a two-cent fare.
Opponents said that that would
cost the city $4,000 a year. Six
months experience. however. proved
that instead Of incurring loss II had
actually resulted In greater profit be-
Ing earned. The chairman OF the
Tramways' committee. who was an
opponent in the first instance. was con.
verted by actual facts. This success
was the chief argument used when the
esolution to inaugurate one-cent morn
ing fares was proposed. and Its po.
tency was Irresistible. The council
were almost unanimous In adopting
the proposal.