The Washington herald., 1914-09-13
PUBLIC RUNS CLEVELAND RAILWAYS THROUGH ONE MAN

I and passengers. and get the running
schedule. II cars are being operated four
minutes apart and we decide that the
time ought to be three minutes. we order
the schedule changed and the order ID
obeyed.
"On coming into this ONCE. found 500
cars in operation. The number has been
Increased to 1250. I asked the company
to buy new cars. Stock Of the company
was sold and new cars were purchased.
Hereafter these cars must be kept in
repair and replaced out OF earnings.
The Prophets Were Wrong.
People can't be moved unless there
Is something to move them in. j meant
to have more cars. Some persons gen.
erously predicted that Peter Witt would
break down the whole cheap fare move
ment. Well. Peter Witt is still busy
and is succeeding in getting the street
railroads OF Cleveland physically
equipped to haul the people as comfort
ably and rapidly as possible.
II attached trailers to motors on some
passengers. Trailers cost 5000. Motors
cost $500 and seat but fifty-seven pas
sengers. There was almost a riot when
! made the suggestion about traiIers 1t
was thought they would be little four
wheeled chicken cOops such as are
used in some other cities. But when
the big trailers arrived, with wide doors
In the sides. the people as a whole were
well satisfied. The street railroad COM
pany of Cleveland during the last
eighteen months has bought one-tenth
Of all the cars manufactured in the
United States and the kind we use are,
without doubt, the best types Of cars
in the world.
The public is getting a great deal
better transportation service than ever
before. And, of course. cheaper service.
The owners OF the stree; railroads are
drawing dividends OF S per cent They
were lucky formerly II they got 4 per
cent While the city doesn't unquali-
fiedly guarantee the dividends. II does
so indirectly and no less certainly. The
interest fund Of 80. 900 shows whether
the rate Of fare is sufficient for the
dividends. II II isn't. the rate moves
up automatically.
Once a few men owned our street
railroads. There are 1000 stockholders
now. most OF whom live in Cleveland.
Persons of small means are buying the
shares. So far as can learn. the
owners of the property are satisfied
with the situation. Their franchises do
not expire until 1894; they are sure Of
the dividends and they escape all CEN
sure and abuse by the public. When
anyone howls now, he howls at Peter
Witt. I am the goat that gets the clubs
under the present arrangement.
The Road Is Out of Politics.
II have nothing whatever TO do with
the hiring. discharging or discfplining
Of the men who operate the roads. The
company has its own managers and su-
perintendents. don't send men out OF
jobs to the company with letters or mes
sages of recommendation; neither do the
members OF the city council. The road.
for once, is out OF politics. Naturally, !
am not particularly popular with motor
men and conductors have speeded
them up and they say I have thus in
creased their labor. After my inspectors
got through with one line. took action
which displaced eight crews. increased
the service thirty-six trips, and at the
same time reduced the expenses Of the
line Sl2 a day. So. others than the
rich are calling me a revolutionist.
In the meanwhile there is some kick