Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-12
STREET RAILWAY R

BY a unanimous vote the city council at Its meet
ing on Wednesday night approved the application of sne
Grand Forks Street Railway company for permission to
advance its rate from five cents to seven cents for each
adult passenger for the remainder of the period OF the,
war. IT is seldom that an application for a rate in
crease by a public service corporation is granted without
some opposition. and the unanimity with which this ac-
ton was taken is therefore quite noteworthy.
The reasons on which the request was based were
concisely stated in the petition presented. They are cas-
lily understood. Summed up, they include the facts that
the cost Of wages has increased about IS per cent: the
cost of the various materials used in the maintenance
and operation Of the road have increased in many cases
several hundred per cent: and the volume of business
has decreased. and with it, naturally, the earnings of
the company.
The Grand Forks street railway is a relatively young
Institution. A few years ago, when the city had reached
l size well up to the limit of walking distance for many
of the residents, the need for a street railway was rec
ognized. and for several years vigorous efforts were
made to induce outside capitalists to invest in such an
enterprise. These efforts were fruitless. 1t became
evident that the people of Grand Forks must build their
own street railway or go without They chose the for
,mer course. Men in every sort of occupation contribut-
ed as they could, not because they had any desire to
invest in a street railway, but because they believed
that the need was imperative, and in many cases the
money thus invested was money which was really
tneeded in the channels Of trade whence it was taken.
The enterprise was q demonstration Of the faith that the
business people CT the city had in their own town.
The business has been conducted modestly and con-
.servatively. 1t has played an important part in the de-
svelopment of the city. 1t has made Grand Forks a more
desirable place to live in and to do business in, and 1t
shas been of special advantage to those living in the
more. remote parts of the city. The company has been
able to meet it's obligations and to keep its property. in
fair condition, 1t has paid small dividends, but it has
"a boe b1o r. crror1o tho errp1ue which o,,rh an
institution should have with which to meet the unex-
pected and extraordinary demands which are inevitable
lin the conduct Of such a business.
The increased cost of labor and material is a mat
ter with which every one is familiar in the transaction
of his own business. 1t is also true that during the past
year there has been an actual decrease in the number
of persons carried. This is die in part to the fact that
so, many of our young men have gone to take their
place in the army and navy of the United States. and
in part. doubtless. to the universal tendency to limit
personal expenditures in every way possible.
The street railway company cannot reduce it's >ex-
,penses without seriously impairing the service, and
therefore lessening the value of the enterprise to the
people of the city, or permitting the property to de-
steriorate. or both. Neither! Of these things is to be
considered. The only other way in which the piing up
of a large deficit can be avoided is by advancing the
rates. This is the course upon which the directors de-
cided, provided permission could be secured, and the
sreasonableness of the demand SO impressed the council
that the required permission was\granted without OBJ
lection.
The increase granted is temporary. BY the action
oof the council the company acquires no rights or priv
sileges which may not be withdrawn in the same man
sner. The company will undoubtedly be glad to restore
the regular rates, and the council to see that they are
restored, just as soon as the conditions warrant.