The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-07-13


the evils Of private management that
would be corrected with the acquisition
Of the lines by the municipality.
Points to Transfer Difficulties.
On the point the Crosser report says:
Another very Objectionable feature Of
the street railway service In the District
OF Columbia IL the fact that no free
transfers are issued by either company
good on the lines Of the other. The two
systems have twenty-nine points OF In
tersection or divedgence. and at none Of
these points can a passenger transfer
from one system to another free OF
charge. At two OF these points transfers
are sold at . cents each.
At two other points tickets are sold
at the rate OF four for Is cents instead
Of six for Is cents, good on the other
senger Is required to pay another fare.
There would however, be considerable
difficulty in determining a basis for
| the interchange OF transfers which
would do absolute justice between the
two companies on account Of the dif-
ference In territory traversed. and the
difference In cost Of operation on the
different lines"
In Connection with the proposal to
finance the condemnation and acaui-
District Of Columbia bonds. the report
makes this comment:
1--WE wish also to call attention to the
fact that the outstanding bonds of the
and are now selling at q premium. The
difference between this rate OF interest
and 5 per cent. which Is about the av-
erage return on the bonds and stocks
of the companies, would permit a fur
| Their saving. which would 60 toward re-
l Apr IA mr. nj WI
Cites American Experience.
Much Of the data presented to the
| House when the Crosser bill was re-
ported at the fsg END of the past SEES
zion Of Congress 10 reincorporated In
/ the report made today. The hearings
| on the bill are reviewed and II Is claimed
that the opposition OF the street railway
companies is no more than has propos-
ais of municipal ownership everywhere
/ have encountered
With respect to the success of mum.
eipal ownership In two American cities
| II Ia argued
There are but two municipality owned
street railway lines In the United States
| So far as we know. There is, however
a municipality owned belt line railroad
| In New Orleans. which Is operated very
successfully by the city.
THE municipalities owning street rail
roads are Monroe. La. and San Fran,
cisco. Cal. Monroe. La. IL city OF
only little over 10000 population, which
has owned its street railway system
from the time Of Its establishment. Il
has nine miles of single track. Thii
street railway has been successful,
operated from the beginning. and dur
ing the year Of 1928 made a net profit
Of over $4,000. The rate Of fare charged
is 5 cents.
THE city Of San Francisco began tn,
operation of the municipal railway
lGeary street line) on December Is. 1912
but It was only partially operated fo
the six months Immediately following
II nevertheless showed ut all times
handsome profit. In December. 1913. tn
same city acquired tho Union stree
, car line. Each Of these lines is pro
ducing a surplus OF about $50 pc
month. or a total Of s30lO0 per month
: The total cost of the property. includ
ing sixteen miles Of single track. will
1+0-pound rails. specially designed stee
cars. magnificent car barn with prac
tically every kind Of convenience an,
comfort for employees. was 81, 657. 81 IS
or less than sl04 900 per mile.
, "A minimum wage OF IS per day o
eight hours was paid 10 laborers EN-
, ployed In constructing the Gsary stree
3 line. The minimum wage paid to ope
ratiyes employed BY the municipal road
10 IS per day Of eight hours. The rat