Evening journal., 1913-12-15
GET VIEWS CT
EXPERT ABOUT
TROLLEY FARE
E. W. Beamis Of Chicago. Says
Appraisal KcuId Cost
$4,000 10 $4,000
SAYS PRESENT LAW GIVES
AUTHORITY TO PROCEED


10 ascertain bis views upon the ply
c,d valuation Of the property of the
Wilmington and Philadelphia Traction
Company IN connection with the agita-
tiou for a restoration 10 public sale OF
six for-a-quarter tickets which the com
pany Withdrew two years ago, the mem
bers Of the Public Utilities Commission
on Saturday afternoon held conference
with Edward w. Beamis Of Chicago,
railway appraisement expert, in the
mayors Office.
Mr. Beamis is member of the Ad'
visory Board Of Valuation OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission at Wash
ineton. He gave the members OF the
hoard. an of whom were present, some
valuable information upon the subject
lie stated that in his opinion, the law
creating the utilities commission gave 10
all the authority necessary 10 look INTO
the Affairs OF the Wilmington and Phila'
deIphia Traction Company with a we"
OF trying 10 compel the corporation TO
restore strip tickets. He stated that
similar action was now pending IN
schenectady, n. Y.
In regard to the cost of such an in
.cstiqntion, which is one Of the impor'
fant factors ia the minds Of the mem.
bers OF the board, Mr.. Beamis stated
that with the cooperation Of the trac.
tion company officials the work could
be done for about $4,000. and if the
trolley company should oppose the Work
hv refusing information the cost might
amount to $4,000 He explained that
bv freely submitting information dosir'
I'd the company's officials could Tighten
ihe engineering work and also the ac-
rounting TO a considerable extent.
Mr.. Beamis said that he did not anti
nipate much trouble on this score, az
very Httie trouble OF this nature had
been encountered by him in similar ex-
in other cities.
Ia reply TO a question as 10 how
many cities there we're in which there
vas q lower rate than a straight five
ent fare, Alr. Beamis replied, that
D his knowledge there were more
han one hundred, including Detroit
'oledo. Columbus, Milwaukee. Super
Dr and Washington, all large cities,
nd a number Of smaller cittes IN
Iichigan, Wisconsin and also In New
FORK and Iowa
Commissioner Garretson asked Mr..
3eamis II he did not find that in the |
arger cities there was more oppor-
unity, due to heavier traffic. for CIV
ng reduced rates than IN smaller cit
ties. The expert replied that he
H.. ..I4 a. IrI, Na4f a
added that the large number OF small
cities that have rrduoed rates Is as
tonishlng. IA Columbus, he cited
uckets are sold s for % cents, and IN
Detroit and Toledo Scent fares OBJ
tain al certqfn hours OF the day. In
Milwaukee and Superior, he said, six
tickets aTe sold for a quarter. He was
asks II the fares were not made 10
cents after midnight in some cities.
and replied that he found this In very
few cities.
Mr.. Beamis, in further discussing
tickets, stated that
IN his opinion the loss 70 the street
ear company would be small. as more
people would ride. thereby making up
The difference between the reduced
fare and straight five-cent fare.
President J. Jackson Peirce of the
board agreed with Mr. Beamis on this
point, stating that he believed a great
many more people would ride than do
nt present, should three-cent fare be
charged.
Mr.. Beamis said he did not think
three cent fare could be inaugurated
IN a city the size of Wilmington.
Referring to the question as to
whether the railway company would
oppose any move made by the boaru
to invesdga its affairs, Mir. Beamis
stated that in Mason City, Iowa, where
an examination such as is suggested
here Is now in progress, the company
ls doing everything within its power
10 assist In the work He thought the
FIRST thing to be done Is to confer
with the officials OF the local company
and ascertain just what attitude they
would take In the event the commits
sion should decide to 80 ahead with
the project.
President Peirce expressed the
opinion that Vice-Presldent Wilson, o
the traction company, would aid ths
board IN any way he could.
When asked II IN some cities public
service corporations we're not assess
ed for the privileges they enjoy. Mr.
Beamis replied that such was th'
case. but that the tendency in mos
cities was to reduce the car far
rather than levy tribute on the com
ssss;ises. Referring q. the Schnectau.
case. the expert stated'that the reasol
given by the railway officials for with
drawing strip tickets was that tn
company was not making any money
A general discussion then followed
and the meeting adjourned with tn
understanding that the members O
the board shall take up the projec
with the trolley company officials be
fore taking any definite action.
Mr. Beamis. who was returnln
from Washington to his home in Chi
cago, was taken on a sightseeing tou
Of the city by Mr.. Garretson in his au
tomobile. accompanied by Commit
sionerE MoNullen and Peirce.