The Washington times., 1918-05-09

ways or the lines Of any one company
graVitating toward scrap piles year
by year by failure to maintain equip
ment OF all departments. Hundreds
OF American cities have seriously suf-
fered this way in past years. With
no controlling municipal hand over
their management, revenues have
been diverted to dividends and little
money devoted to care Of roadbed.
rolling stock, and equipment gener-
ally. The public has had to pay the
penalty for its lack OF watchfulness.
service has grown steadily less eff
ficient
Nothing short Of a carefully super
vised depreciation fund, OF dimen-
sions large enough to guarantee
standard maintenance, is sufficient TO
insure against street railway deteri-
Grafton, and this is the gravest ques-
ton before public service commits
siOns n the country. Officials Of the
District Utilities Commission are pre-
pared to insist that nothing like this
state of affairs shall hit street car
service here. and the only way to
make sure is by ordering the setting
aside of a gOodly depreciation fund
that Is an actually and not camou
dage OF bookkeeping. The eventual
decision of the commission Is expect
ed to be that this fund shall he eN-l
pended under direction of the COM /
mission.
1t is regrettably well known I'm Of !
hcial circles that roadbeds of Wash |
ington street railways are in about |
the worst condition in years, and \
that repairs will have to begin Roon. |
This is in part due, It is said today, |
to the inability to get some OF the |
material required for repairs.
Not Using All Cars Now.
Reports before the Utilities Com |
mission significantly show that the
rolling stock OF the Washington rail-
ways is not now being used to its
fullest limit. but these reports do not
explain fully how many of the unused |
cars may be safely operated. Recent
y the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company had $50 cars that were
not scheduled for runs at all, ninety
nine Of them closed and fifty open. OIL
The cars actually scheduled to run
turing the month OF April last, many
JAILED to make the required number
II trips. There was a shortage of
,4O1 runs on the lines Of this road in
hat month. On the Eleventh street,
Anacostia, and Congress Heights line
Ilone 1888 runs were not made, the
public suffering accordingly.
Railway officials make the repeat-
d claim that they are simply unable
o get men to operate the cars, al
hough advertising in newspapers all
.round Washington and offering
very inducement.
The Washington Railway and Elec-
ric Company is ready to employ col
eye and high school boys for extra
morning and afternoon runs, and may
SIX the help OF the Board OF Educa-
ion in this direction.
One advantage new cars will have
yer those now owned is that they
re to be equipped to be run in trains
I two, and will naturally be more
and satisfactory to the
ublic.
Valuation May BE Delayed. u
The Utilities Commission is prepar-
lg TO wind up valuation hearings as
the Washington Railway and EIec- \
rio properties by cross-examination Z
the attorneys and experts OF that
ne upon the claims OF the company. '
A decision as to valuation will prob r
bly, be delayed, though, pending the {
ecision OF Justice Gould, of the Su- c
RENE Court OF the District, in the
otomac Electric Power valuation C
lse, in which some OF the same prin- a
piles are involved. The P. E. p.
ompany Is fighting the valuation of
s properties fixed by the commits {
on, claiming many more millions of b
ctual value than allowed by the Z
Justice Gould's decision j.
Ill be carefully studied before q
aluation is placed on the W. r. and b
. properties. The electric light conn.,
any is a subsidiary OF the railway
,mpany