The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-01-29
BIG DROP IN FARES IS SEEN
Manager Stearns Admits That Business
of the Company Fell Of 1880 in De-
cember and january Shows Almost
as Large Decrease.

The new limitations of the service
furnished to the people of Kenosha by
the Wisconsin Gas and Electric COM
pany as operators of the Kenosha Elec-
trio Railway were threatened ON Tues
day evening by Manager R B. Stearns
of the company, who declared that un-
Less there was decided Improvement
In the amount of business done by the
company in Kenosha within month ii
would be necessary to curtail service
in the city. Manager Stearns declared
that the lines of the company were
now being operated at a loss and that
the number of nickles rafting into the
cash boxes of the cars was far below
the number taken by the company In
the previous year. The receipts of tho
company during the month of Decem-
Der showed a falling off of twenty
three per cent and this represented a
money decrease from the fares received
in the same month of 1912 of $1,000.
The officials of the company are inclin-
cd to blame this big slump in business
to the fact that many people have been
out Of employment in Kenosha.
Mayor Head insisted at the confer
ence with the railway manager that it
was not improbable that the open win
ter had something to do with the fall
ing off in the number of passengers.
The drop of more than one-ffth of
tho igssl trafis Is considered as a very
large e5l9. u speaking of the matter
the manager said: We have instruct-
ed our superintendent here to get a
statement from the employers of labor
to show us just what the conditions in
Kenosha are at the present time. It
is certain that if there is not going to
be any increase in the business that
the company can not continue to pull
empty cars through the streets and we
will be forced to make some curtail-
ment of expenses. We have not made
any order for such curtailment but
have decided to continue the present
service until reports for the month of
January have been received and tabu-
lated. These may show an improve
ment but thus far in the month there is
a considerable falling off over the re-
ceipts of the same month of last year"
The company is now meeting all the
demands of it's franchise ordinances as
to the service furnished and in order
to make any changes it would be nee
essary to get an order from the rail-
road commission. Of course any such
order would be opposed by the officials
of the city.
Discuss New Bridge Plan.
At the conference on Tuesday Mayor
Head and members of the special
transportation committee took up with
Manager Stesrns the proposed plan of
Strengthening Main street and the
building of new bridge over the
street. This matter was left open for
a further consideration on the part of
the manager of the company. 1t is the
contention of the city officials that the
company will be benefited materially
by the change in the grade of Main
street and the building of the new
bridge and the company has been asked
to pay some portion of the cost of the
work.
Under the franchise ordinance the city
would have no right to demand any
payment from the company but it is
possible that the company in return
for improved conditions in the opera
ton of cars will be willing to make
some donation to the cost of the i'm
Manager Stearns has
agreed to give an answer to the mayor
within the next ten days.