The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1918-03-29
WILL INTERURBANS BE
PALSIED AS STEAM
ROADS HAVE BEEN Z

The showings made to the public
utilities commission in appeals for re-
lief by the public service corporations
prove that many of them cannot con-
tinue operation unless rates are re-
adjusted, and none of them are re-
ceiving enough in return for service to
permit expenditure for betterments or
extensions.
Steam roads haYing paralyzed bust
ness by breaking down, causes appre
hension that the electric roads, being
subject to the same war conditions,
may suffer the same fate.
Why is the greatest of nations
paralyzed2
Because ill-adyised national and
state regulations have added to oper-
ating expenses of the steam roads so
limiting their incomes that they are
improbable to investors and cannot
borrow at a reasonable interest money
for terminals and extensions.
Will the electric roads be made
profitable by increases in business due
to the breaking down of the steam
systems?
Officials of several electric roads
asking increases in passenger rates,
have put their books before the public
utilities commission and shown that
operating expenses have been in
creased more than half within two
years and many sources of expense
have doubled since the rates were
fixed.
Reduction of the number of steam
trains and the uncertainty of their
movements, has thrown upon the cleo
trio roads more passengers than they
have cars to carry.
Can't they get additional cars?
Many of them cannot. A losing bus
mess has poor credit.
VIII they not get greatly Increased
income from added freight traffic
which now is taken to them because
of the embargoes, priority orders and
blocked terminals of the steam roads?
The books of many of them show
that they have no surplus with which
to buy additional rolling stock.
Will the patrons of these roads
favor an increase in lnterurban
rates2
Those who know the situation will.
for the American people are fair
minded
Can demagogs still win votes for
themselves for public office by attack
ing public service corporations?
Probably not, il the present expert
ence from the collapse of Transports
ton brings to the public knowledge
the necessities of these corporations
/. Electrical power for light and
heat and traction, and conversation, is
distributed through copper wire
Previous to three years ago, the price
of copper for this use ranged between
II and Is cents. 1t now is 2S cents.
2. Previous to the outbreak of the
European war coal cost $1.90 ton de
livered. The average cost now to trac
tion roads out of Columbus is S3.49
and the freight charge is paid by the
purchaser. And, too, when the price
was $190, screened coal was deliv
cred. Now it is ''run-of-mine" with
slate, stone, earth, dust and all. This
difference in quality makes a heat
unit cost double what it was when
the price to consumers was fixed.
8. Utility enterprises have certain
ly fallen upon evil days, and are
wrestling with problems of which
their patrons are wholly unaware. The
market price of utility securities has
steadily declined during the last two
| or three years, and many Of them have
no market value at all.
If they fail the public will be
the greater sufferer; for there will be
no inducement for others to take the
hazard of attempting to furnish the
service. These problems require some
sane thinking on the part of botl
| producer and consumer.
5. Not only the business of natioI
but it's existence as well, depends upor
| transportation. It's cost is unimpor
tant for it affects all alike and, any
way, the public is well protected
against extortion by the public utili
ties commission. The quality of serv
| ice is all-important, and efficient serv
ice cannot be had unless the corpor
ations are allowed rates which viii
produce money enough for mainten
ance and interest on capital