The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-31
Suggested ! >@,olley Off
cials 4S%oolution of
Problem
TOWN OF BERLIN
JOINS TWIN CITIES
Jitneys Blamed by Street
Car Men for Reduced
Receipts

Barre and Montpelier city councils and
the selectmen of the town of Berlin as,
sembled last evening in the Montpelier
city hall to hear the request of the Barre
& Montpelier Traction company officials
that their franchise be modified SO that
a 45-minute, instead of Commute sched
lule, might be put into operation in an
endeavor to reduce the expense of the
road and thus mitigate the inevitable
yearly deficit, voted informally at the
conclusion of over two hours discussion
not to grant the request.
A step further was taken by the as
sembled couneilmen, and it was the
unanimous vote that the traction Off
cials be asked to return to the ten-cent
fare, it being the belief of the majority
of those present that this step would
aid the trolley line in the financial diff
Guilty it now faces, inasmuch as the re-
duction in the price of an intercity ride
would be sure to meet with favor by
the public, favor which is at present
enjoyed by the "jitneys."
The purpose of the meeting, namely,
to understand thoroughly how the rep
lresentatives of the three communities
treated the request, already considered
several times by the councils separately,
was accomplished satisfactorily, and it
now remains for the councils to take
official action on the trolley companys
request. The Barre council voted as a
unit against the proposed change in the
schedule, being accompanied in their
opinion by but one of the Berlin select
men.
Selectman S. C. Pike of Berlin was
chosen chairman of the meeting, with
Mayor Frank E. Langley of Barre as
secretary and Manager H. d. Larabee of
the Tenney company made explanatory
remarks, outlining briefly but clearly the
desires of the company which he repre-
sented. His statement was similar to
Others made when similar missions were
made by the Tenney company officials to
the city councils.
Mr.. Larabee emphasized the fact that
conditions have been growing rapidly
worse day by day, and at the present
time the revenue derived from the elec-
trie road is less than is normally en-
ioyed in the winter months, when the
road has always been operated at
slight loss. The summer time has al
ways been depended upon to make up
for the decrease in revenue received in
the winter, and unless something can be
lone quickly TO relieve the situation il
will be better for the Tenney company to
suspend operation OF the road, he said. In
his opinion. the 45-minute schedule would
,ause no serious inconvenience. and the
inc would be able to handle the public
adequately.
The assembled councilmen were after
igures, and statistics they obtained
without stint from Manager Lsrabee and
Toward T. Sands of Boston. The latter
aid in reply TO a query made by Alder
nan Kent that il would cost 100000
o replace the present road. The capi-
Of the road also came in for
good deal Of discussion, Mr.. Sands
making the statement that il was the
owest capitalized road per mile in the
tate.
Figures given by Mr.. Sands disclosed
he fact that despite the fare increase
.hieh went into effect last December. the
ross receipts for the fiscal year ending
une 30, 1915, decreased from the pre-
ious year 20 the amount Of 5000. In
SOS. the year the road started to do
business between the two
ties. the gross receipts were s4a.676,
ais with a fve-eent fare. In 1914. the
mount was $500. and in 1915 but
y. $50.
Mr.. sands admitted that he did not
onder that people preferred 10 pat
,nizc the jitneys during the warm
Gather and did not blame them; but
was true that the average number of
,ssengers on a mainline car for q trip
as eight persons.
A saving Of about s3.6o0 a year would
made. Il has been estimated by the
action officials II they were allowed
take Of one mainline car. Alderman
ent. in the course of msny iuterroga
~ remarks directed at the trnction
beers asked IL the fare vas reduced o.
y cents they thought the IS o. AZ iIt-
vs now operating would sti1 survive
Y compete with the road. 70 which
; Ssnds replied IN the Affirmative.
lLIa Hatlle AAHA -AHArr Ni-l AaAN 80 49,
p rosd has not been laying away ore
h for an srcideBt reserve ~ for d.
rc.atiua. and improvements nnust he
.as from time - time Hr also rroks
the relation of . transportation ouu-
uv e. the erumunifirs uhirh 4 serves
surina TIE gathering that q fasd vhich
ls - make uluneY is sure a. detrsrt
m the curuunitfss end - muisancs.
rreas. ths opposite wculd ~ ths cass
fhn rosf wsre prosperous.
n rarir a. e diret 0urstign 80 -
ed fha rod wuHld o. ir osse So
.urst uas refused. Mr Sands ssid thss
sil r.rabztIry rars wnuid ~ run fruw
81 Kan square iu Bsrrs - SslsT
s-ur ir w1rtuflaef. ard the uasser-
: unuiH ts trsnsfrTrea EEsntuailT.
rrrtF. the univ n1urss fnr fhs ruze
ssors wurid - e. ruH.
lsFr-e 8erartfug to niigu 80 sldrr-
: s7esru-s ard aelrff rrlrr ts f1s~uss
r7-Fslrrr NJ SanEs r1fiaf atter- iu-
- sasf ttnt srrmef be- rr thf wnrf
5srurrf ntr era8af - reeHesH~r