Putnam patriot., 1916-02-25
ZONE SYSTEM
Has Been Worked Out After Careful
 Investigation
Will Increase lncome-cla i'm ed More
 Equitable

LIuitdutS
 For several years past there has beer a continual advance in the cost of oper. aiing street railway properties, saet year showing an increase in the opera. ting expenses entirely out of propor ton 10 the increase in the gross earn ings until the margin is not sufficient to provide "a reasonable return on the investment. As a consequence the credit of the street railway properties has been impaired and the financing for improvements and extensions made absolutely impossible.
 This industry, like all other indus tries, must adjust the price charged the public for its service to the cost oi producing that service. Throughout New England many of theiroads have secured increase of income by change from five to the six cent zone. The Shore Line Electric Railway company very nearly d year ago realized the need of added income and decided to adopt six cents IS the unit lof service, but nbout that time the railway mana. gers of New England began q careful study of rate making throughout the country, and the management of the Shore Line finally came 10 the eonelu sion that six cent rate simply em- pAasizea the faults of the present fixed unit of fare aad varying unit of ser vice, and decided to adopt the short or ,pper zone system which operates very closely to the mileage system, The passenger car mile is the univer sally accepted basis Of passenger fares on steam roads, and also among the street railway systems of the west very nearly all of the trackage of the mid die west being so operated.
 Early in the fall the Shore Line be gan the adoption of the copper zone method of collecting fares on two O it's divisions, and it is planned now t' put it into effect on what is known n the New London division, betweer New London and Wiliimanlic, an' Norwich and West Thompson.
 The Putnam division is affected a follows: From Central Village nortl the fare to Attawaugan hotel in Dan ielson l2 cents where il is now 10 cent and from the Red bridge on the Moo sup line to Dnnielson II cents where is now 15, Moosup l6 cents where it 1 now l5. The local ride from Daniel son as far Us nortb as Elmvile and n far south as the power house will be cents, and Q cents would cover loca ride between stations l74, Shanty Hill and ITS, Connecticut mills.
 The fare from the Attawaugan hote to Dayvile Center cents, to Wild wood park 8 cents where formerly 10 and from Attawaugan hotel to Putnam railway station or Pomfret street il Putnam IS cents. From the center o Putnam south as far as Wheaton's cents, and the cent rate will apply Al far north as Mechanicsville, station 19SD.
 The rate from Putnam to the Coun try club will be 6 cents, and from Dan ielson to the club fl cents.
 The fare from Putnam center t Wildwood park 10 cents, the same a' at present, this rate also applying tt 
 Attawaugan crossingds
 Conductors on the Putnam division were provided Friday with booklets giving detailed instructions relative C the new system. There is much flo the conductors to study up, for the, must learn all about the zones whicl will mark new fare limits, as well h learning rules that are to apply in spe cial cases. They find by their instfuc ton books that they must take from passenger as he leaves a car the sill that was given him when his fare wa collected for the conductors are requiT ed to turn these into the company.
 The little book teaches how to puncl up the new fare slips. lhey are toiu passenger is unfamiliar with tn road and in doubt as to the exact sta tion at which he desires to,ieave tn car how to sell to fare terminal tha will cover the ride 10 the center of th' community to which he is going. Alst that passenger after purchasing cash receipt and arriving at deslina tion, who desires to ride farther mus be treated as new passenger and th minimum fare of five cents collected the further ride is less three zones..
 The conductors are 10 be provide' with special equipment for puachinI out the cash receipt slips, the presen registers in the caTs being used only II ringing up five-eent fares. The zon system went into effect this Thursday 1 morning