Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-03-15
The Cummings Railroad BILL

standing as to the effect of the bill
now before the Legislature regulating the
fares of the Washington and Rockville
Railway, as well as the occasion for action
at this time.
The PRACTICAL EFFECT Or THE Bill.
The bill creates four cash fare zones,
instead of three now in operation. The
zones from the District line to Alta Vista
and from Montrose to Rockville remain as
at present. The second zone is divided
by the county road crossing at switch No.
4, creating two new zones out of the pres
ent second zone. While the number of
zones are increased, the cost of monthly
communication tickets is reduced. from Rock
vile to the District line from $500 to
SAP, from Montrose to the District line
from $3.46 to $3.50. from switch No. 4 to
District line from $3.48 to $2.20, and
from Alta Vista to District line from SITS
to $l.10, so that each monthly commuter
from Rockville saves $3.50 per year. and
the commuters on every other zone receives
lower monthly Communication rates than
under the present law, the present rate be-
ing Is cents for each of these fare zones,
the rate provided by the bill 2 l-8 cents
for each of the four new fare zones. School
tickets being sold at the same rate, but
with only % round trips per month. The
bill also provides for family tickets good
for one year for any number of family
or household travelling together over the
two short zones to be established at rate
of 2 l-2 cents for each Of these short zones,
thereby preserving the present cash rate
to all who may wish to avail themselves
of this classification. namely, is cents over
the whole line. This is accomplished by the
purchase for one dollar of 40 coupon tick
cts. each good over either Of the two short
zones for period Of one year from the
date of purchase. This is very small
sum to invest and places the family ticket
within the reach Of anyone, the members
of whose family make as many as ten
round trips a year to Washington. 1t is
true that anyone whose family in the az
gregate does not make ten round trips
year would have no use for the family
ticket. but he or they could not lose over 80
cents year by the change from three to
four zones, while under the present three
zone basis every commuter from Rockville
loses $3.50 year, as compared with what
he had to pay before the Henderson law was
passed. The present bill re-establishes this
old Communication rate of 2 1-8 cents per
fare zone and gives US back the rate which
we were deprived Of through an error Of
Mr.. Henderson in shaping his bill. of which
error the railroad company Immediately
took advantage and advanced the rate to
the cost of living in the county to every
cOmmuter. But it is commended that many
people who travel often would neglect to
purchase the family ticket and then have
to pay an additional cash fare in passing
over zone two or three. That is true.
and II is also true that some people do not
now take advantage Of the Communication
rate on some parts of the line where they
travel every day. but everyone has the
same right to bring himself within either
of these passenger classifications by travel
ling over the road ten round trips a year
or So round trips a month. as the case
may be, and those who do not do so. would
have to pay a cash rate of 20 cents a trip
as against 81 cents a trip or IS cents q
round trip over the B. & o.
The cost of school tickets under this bill
is Montrose to Rockville SO cents pres
ent cost SLIP. Same cost from Alta Vista
to d. C. Switch No. 4 to Rockville $186
present cost 1924. Same cost from switch
No. to District line. Owing to the extra
zone. the school ticket from switch No.
to the District line is little higher than
under the present law. being $3.72. as
against $3.50. But it should be remem-
bered that the Federal court in Baltimore
held the school-ticket provision of the
Henderson law to be unconstitutional and
void. and the present arrangement is fixed
to avoid that difficulty.
TAXABLE BASIS.
This county has experienced a wonder
full increase in its taxable basis in the last
few years. mostly along the lines of cleo
trio roads. Good transportation facilities
mean development in our peculiarly advan-
tageous position with respect to Washing
ton, but the matter of the cost Of travel
seriously affects the cost Of living to those
who reside in the county and do business
in the city. This cost is probably the most
important matter for our immediate atten-
ton. IL we are to get the full benefit Of the
increased wealth and taxes which are tend
ing strongly towards u.s. The present four
million dollar basis Of Bethesda district
has furnished many dollars in taxes to pay
county expenses and even TO build roads
in other sections. The same may be said
of Rockville and Wheaton districts. Is II
the exercise Of good business judgment to
take any action which will retard this de-
velopment which affects the value Of all
property in the county. because, perchance
some one will not take advantage of the
family ticket. who is entitled to do so. OF
that others travel so seldom as to make
the increase in cash fare Of no practical
importance to them when they fail to get
the family rate? lido not believe that many
Of our citizens. the members Of WHOSE
families in the aggregate visit Wash
ington less than ten times a year. would
insist upon such position under the cir
cumstances of this case. Each individual
goes to make up the whole population, anc
each brings to the whole his proportion Of
the Aggregate wealth and business. The
means of livelihood Of some requires little
travel. while others must travel each day
If the cost Of such travel makes one mov'
with his or her family from Rockville to som'
other place with cheaper facilities, the
business of the town and the demand fO