Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-29

, mission lays down some rules as guides
in such cases generally.
Tho location Of the fare limits rails
es some rather troublesome questions,
as this subject usually does. Still,
there are certain principles which
ought to be borne in mind in fixing
such limits. and which. if attended
to, furnish very helpful guides in
just to all parties.
1.-THE zone system, while 1t is the
only one in general use for fixing fares
on the electric cars, is at best a COM
promise. 1t exacts of a person who
rides only a block the same fare as
Of one who rides the entire length of
the zone. 1t exacts of a person who
rides just across the line between the
two zones, perhaps only a few rods,
twice as much as from one who
rides FIVE miles entirely within eth
Ell one Of the same two zones. Theo-
retically, this Is entirely unfair; but It
is accepted as the most practical meth
Cd Of handling the subject.
Whoever rides must pay at least
one fare. The law of averages must
be relied upon to work out final jus
tice, both to the carrier and to the
passengers. If he rides a short dis
lance today. he may make it up with
a longer ride tomorrow.
ut comes hard on the person who
lives just over the line to pay the
extra fare for the short part Of a
longer ride. But the line has to fall
somewhere, and If it is moved, other
ino <ray e.,
the hardship to someone else.
THE scent fare and the fixed fare or
zone limit are therefore the accepted
practice.
while, however, the fare limit
must be expected to fall where 1t
will cause hardship to some persons
care should be taken to avoid caus-
ing such hardship to an unnecessary
number. The limit should not be To-
Gated where it must be crossed by
all who go to or from a natural CEN
ter Of travel or center of population
If 1t can rea sonably be avoided. It
ought II possible, to be placed at such
centers. in order to give persons an
opportunity to pass to or from them a
reasonable distance without paying two
fares.
Where an interurban line passes
through several centers of population
With sparsely settled sections between
it is not enough in fixing fare zones
to begin at one end and divide the en-
tire distance into arbitrary fractions
without any regard to where the linn
it's fall. Each such center should be
considered as a starting point so far
he 80
whole scheme will permit. Each of
them has right to some degree of
the same consideration which is CIV
en- the center Of the whole system
from which the particular line radiates.
THE zones which are more densely
populated ought to be longer than
those sparselv populated. because they
receive greater percentage of snort
hauls, The average distance travelled
by all Of the persons paying a fare
for that zone will be less than the
average distance travelled in a sparse
ly settled zone where most Of the
passengers ride entirely through. The
city zones have a large percentage of
local passengers constantly getting OH
and off and paving the fare for a
short ride
The decision then discusses each lin
ii by itself and finds that they are not
row reasonable and Just. It orders
the first limit to be placed at Tho
waiting room in Veazie: the second
at the post Office in Orono: the third
at Saltwater. and the fourth at the
end Of the line in Old Town. The last
two are as at present located.
W, 70 lot 1noo1
litions in Orono, the order provides
for an overlap Of about three quar-
ters Of a mile between Island ave-
nue. and Mill street. This makes It
possible for nersons to travel from
any point IN the town Of orono to and
through the business section of the
village for single fare.
The order is effective Oct. ] 1917