Arizona republican., 1918-05-30
RAILWAY PEOPLE
 MUST ANSWER TO STATE FUR ALT
Corporation Commission Is
 Wroth Over Abandoning of Grand Avenue Line in Face of Order It Issued

For having abandoned Grand ave nuo line. the Phoenix Street Railway company has been called upon to answer to the state corporation con- mission.
 In an order issued late yesterday afternoon by that commission, the street railway company is commanded Co appear before the commission at 10 o'clock on Monday, June 10. and show why it should not he judged in con- tempt in having violated an order of the corporation commission issued August :. 1912
 This order issued nearly six years ago. set out in detail the operating schedule of the street railway com pany the routes to be observed and other matters concerning the relation of the--company and the public. It was stated at the office of the corpof- ation commission yesterday that the abandonment of the Grand avenue line apparently was a violation of this order.
 "The issuing of this order" said r. A. Jones, chairman of the corpora tiol commission. follows the receipt of complaints by many citizens of Phoenix who have been severely in- convenienced by the abandoning of the Grand avenue street car line. This almost forgotten order, issued by the commission in 1912, seems to have covered matters of this kind, and we have issued an order instructir The street railway company to appear be- fore this commission June 10 and answer"
 No street cars have been run on Grand avenue for nearly five months. On the part of the line from Wash ington street to Five Points. the track has been removed and the street paved. Notified by the street railway company that it intended to abandon the Grand avenue line, the people in that part of the city. who had long been served by the linc. emitted many loud protests. but all Co no avail. Many discussions were held as to whether the street railway company "could' abandon the line. but the company did" and the matter quieted down to a considerable extent until the unearthing of the siX-ycar- or der of the corporation commission has revived the controversy.
 More trouble ahead" was the re- jOinder of Samuel II. Mitchell man. nf hp rnf af,Fs when informed of the order last night He had not been officially served with it.
 We have not abandoned service or the Grand avenue line because WI wanted to- said Mir Mitchell. "bu' because we were compelled to. Ir preparing the 2,300 feet of the lin, from Washington to Five Points foi paving, it was necessary 10 raise tn, grade in some places and to lower il in others. The rails and ties of tn, track would not stand being raised We tried it and they came apart Therefore We removed that 2.300 fee nf track, consequently abandonins service on the whole line.
 We have no new rails to lay a new track" declared Mir. Mitchell. "I we had the money. it would be nex 10 lnpOSSihie 70 Duy steel at the pres ent time. But We are not financial, able 10 do this. The company for 2 years has never paid a dollar in divi dends. never charged a cent off fO depreciation. and, with the exception of SlO0 year, never has paid a dolla on bonds.
 We have raised salaries. while a tho same time the cost of all mate rals has increased from 50 to 200 De cent in tho past few years. In Phoe nix We have maintained a five-cen fare. Many street railway companie have gone into the hands of receivers many have suspended. and score have increased their fares to : an even 10 cents.'