The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-02-01

Milwaukee the city was represented BY
Mayor Charles fl. Pfennig, City At
torney John G. Slater and the editor
of the Evening News. The proposed
plan of Mr.. Way proved a matter of
intense interest to the city officials
and they looked at it from many
angles. Mayor Pfennig sought to have
more figures submitted on the PROPOSE
ton in order that he might look into
the future. He admitted the possibili-
ties of the plan as a great profit pro-
Queer to the city in some remote
future when Kenosha becomes the
second city in Wisconsin and whom its
transportation problems shall be solved
with properly equipped and properly
opetasei street rsaYay company.
All Cards on the Table.
From a point of frankness in regard
to conditions surrounding the opera
tion of the railway in Kenosha, Vice
President Way left nothing to be de-
sired. The company laid all OF its
cards right down on the table. It sub
mitted to the city officials every re-
port which has been made to the COM
pany regarding the operation of the
Kenosha property since it was taken
over by the present owners in 1912.
This report was most interesting, as it
showed the problem of continual loss
which the company is being called to
meet. It showed that in the year 1916
just closed, the company had a net
loss of $31, 981. There was a net loss
over actual operating expenses Of the
cars OF more than 81 300 and the loss
as figured on the investment repre-
sented 6.6S per cent. This was loss
largely over the loss reported in any
former year and the percentage of loss
was nearly double that Of the former
year. The reports showed economical
operation of the railway, the actual
cost in the past year being only lit
tie over $4,000 as compared with an
operating expense of $4,000 in the
best year of the company in Kenosha.
EOI 1ulMeuldGS hel16l.
Several plans were advanced for the
immediate lettering of railway condi-
'tions in Kenosha. Several plans were
suggested. Through lines to Milwau-
kee avenue, to Grand and Ashland
avenue with the entire elimination Of
the piling up of cars on Market Square
with the provisions that cars shall be
kept circulating at all times. The new
idea which met with the sanction Of
General Manager Way would provide
that the cars be kept in operation
every car hour during the day. The
plan would offer lot better service
on the through lines on Milwaukee
avenue, Ashland and Grand avenue
and the "loop" cars, those operating
over Market, Main, Newell, Elizabeth
and South street would be kept in con-
tinual operation. The question of the
return of conductors to the cars was
discussed at great length General
Manager Way declared that he was
ready to restore conductors if it could
be shown that the receipts for
fares would pay for the actual in
crease in operating expense.
Ultimate plans for the developments
of the railway in Kenosha were dis
cussed with the understanding that
survey of the entire city will be made
and a plan for well rounded out sys-
tenn of street railway tracks made in
the near future which would give the
company and the city something to
work for in the future Mr.. Way
recognized the need of building lines
into new territory in Kenosha and he
recognized the fact that such lines
might be productive of increased rev.
enues for the city and the company
The idea of cooperation between
the company and the city was worked
out at considerable length. 1t includ-
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