Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-27
p. e r. r. PLANS ELECTRIC
LINES FOR SUBURBS
Continued from rsre One
WOULD COST MILLIONS

Continued from rare One
matter Of swift and comfortable trsnsporta-
tion.
WOULD COST MILLIONS
Elcctrincation OF the Reading branches
would cost many millions OF dollars, and
Il IL planned 60 pay this Immense sum from
the revenue Of the railway. as was done
in 1907 when the Reading built It's present
elevated structure. The year 1907 was n
panclSy year and 80 was the year following
but In both the Reading amazed the fnan-
clal world by expendlng huge sums from
its revenue in building It's elevated struc-
ture through the heart OF the city.
But the eicctrlncation OF suburban lines
Is only one Of Mr.. Dice's plans for Inn
proving the railway His great ambition
Is 20 make the Reading system the best
passenger system in the United States
NEW SPIRIT IN SYSTEM
Although raised In that railroad school
Of which the conservative, divine fright"
Baer was, perhaps, the best exemplar. Mr..
Dice caught the new. progressive note In
railroading even before he ascended TO the
presidency. His associates say that for
several years he has secretly dlsapproved
OF any policy designed to keep the public In
the dark concerning operations which were
really of great public interest. Evidence CT
this attitude was produced one time when
a newspaper reporter called to inquire about
certain facts connected with the operation
OF the road. Mr.. Dice talked with the re-
porter for a half hour, and when the news
paper man left Mr. Dice observed:
81 am convinced that we should meet the
public half way. We should be frank with
the newspapers In these progressive days
| " should not shun the public, but should
cooperate with IL in every way possible
Soon after Mr.. Dice became president OF
the Readng. his personality began 20 be
| felt In every part OF the system. Every
| body from trackman to division supern
| tendent felt the stimulus OF his seemingly
| inexhaustible energy and fine optimism
| There was a new note in the conduct OF
affairs. Big things loomed ahead and every
| employe felt glad that big, progressive
| personality was at the helm. This spirit
| OF progress Is n feature of the Reading
| organization today.
II is said on excellent authority that Mr.
| Dice has regretted that the Reading fol
| lowed the lead of the Pennsylvania Rail
| road in raising the fares of commuters
| His railroad has suffered more from thi!
increase than has the Pennsylvania, fol
| only about fourteen per cent Of the Penn
| sylvania's business was in the commutel
| class, while that of the Reading was abou
ifty-seven per cent
Since the increase went into effect th'
Reading has lost great deal of suburban
| passenger business. Commuters hav'
abandoned trains for trolleys and the Read
Ing has been obliged to take of many car
and run smaller trains.
This is a great loss to U.S." said an on
cal of the road where before we ha'
trains OF eight or ten cars we now hav
three and four. 1t is almost as cheap TO
us to pull ten cars as 1t is four. The Read
ing will be glad to see the old rates com
| back. We have found that the high rate
have discouraged living in the suburbs
Hundreds of families have moved into tn
city. It is vital to the business OF tn
railroads that these suburbs flourish"
/ II President Dice RECEIVERS from his Ill
ness. Il is certain that construction OF tn
electrical equipment will start as soon a
the labor and equipment market permits.