The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1909-02-12
THE TRACTION FAKE.
Cleveland Disgusted With Mayor
Johnson's Methods.
convenienes and Safety Are Ignored
TO Keep Three Cent Fare System
From 6ankruptey-Loss Of Time and
. Comfort Far Outweigh the Saving In
Pennies.

Comfort Far Outweigh the Saving In
Pennies.
Seml-municipal ownership of street
cars does not seem 20 he giving the
satisfaction that was anticipated. The
Municipal Traction company Is really
the city Of Cleveland disguised to
evade a state !sw, and, according to the
Cleveland paiers, II Is defying state
laws aud city ordinances in way that
would bring Mayor johnson into action
f. ten minutes II the lawbreaker were
an ordinary corporation.
Perhaps the worst example Of this Is
the blocking shut the derailers Mt grade
crossings and drawbridges. which are
designed automatically to prevent q
car running through an open draw or
being run down by train. The most
frlghtful trolley accidents have been
due to the absence Of such derailers as
have now been put out Of service tn
Cleveland.
The law has also been defied by the
breaking Of the fare and service con.
tTuCtS Will buDut Jun NOWhS WhtSu
were inherited from the Cleveland
Electric Railway company, cursed
while alive, but now Of blessed mem
Ory.
The following editorials from two Of
the principal Cleveland dailies show
the trend of local sentiment. Under the
caption "Nlaking 1t Pay" the News
says:
''The ancient maxim The king can do
no wrong has been translated Into the
modern phrase The municipal traction
company may do what 1t pleases.'
"What are laws and ordinances for
the convenience Of citizens or for the
preservation Of their lives II such legal
restraint interferes with the successful
demonstrate Of three cent fare2
safety devices upon drawbridges
have been brushed aside. The other
day man with both legs cut of lay
for fifteen minutes under car which
carried no jack. Such device seems
to have been scarce upon all the cars
blockaded by the accident.
Upon East Fifty-ffth street have
appeared the old dinky cars equipped
with hand brakes. Even the traction
company has scarcely cheek enough to
post its famous This Is Your Proper.
ty' notice In these antiquated cars.
"The Superior avenue line has been
reduced fifteen and the Loraln avenue
service ten runs.
80 It goes all over the city. Three
cent fare. to be sure, unless one needs
to transfer. But what service! 1t may
he made to pay the traction company,
but win It pay the cltyT
Somewhat more judicially the Leader
deals with these and other shOrtcom
ings Under the caption Dear Bought
Economies:"
"So,ne Of the go called economies
which the SO called Municipal Traction
company Is practicing are costly to tho
public. The saving to the corporation
Is moro than Offset by the loss to Its
patrons.
''In some instances the partial Ol
complete withdrawal Of street cars
from lines which do not yield suffi
Client revenue to satisfy Mayor John
son and his associates In the traction
business has damaged property more
than enough to balance the saving t.
the company which promised Cleve
land better service In every respect n!
well as lower fare. On many lines th'
Increased intervals between cars ars
causing such long waiting by thou
sands of passengers that II their tim'
is counted as worth only modest sun
by the hour or the day the loss whicl
they undergo is much more thai
enough to offset the profits Of poo