Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-23
CAPITAL TRACTION
ASKS 5CENT::FARE.
Applies to Commission for
Right to Increase Rates
to Passengers.
SHOWS GREATER. COSTS

The Capital Traction Company today
applied to the Public Utilities Com
mission for authority to charge a
straight scent fare on all its lines in
the District.
Because of the increased cost Of
operation resulting from war con-
ditions, it is no longer possible under
the present Observation-Disclosures
plan, the company submits, for it to
meet the requirements of service OF
fulfill its charter obligations.
Its application, published in full in
today;s issue Of The Star, presents
statements Of itemized costs which
give line on the extensive increases
in cost of labor and materials tina,
have dealt hard blow at the street
railway industry generally, In some
instances so severely as to threaten
bankruptcy.
TO Announce Hearing Date.
Commissioner Brownlow, chairman
Of the utilities commission, said that a
date for a public hearing on the ap-
plication would be announced in a
few days. In all probability, the hear
one announced for October Z, on the
application Of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company for permission
to charge straight fare Of 5 cents.
One Of the striking statements in the
Capital Traction Company's petition is
fHaf h. hfvA 1Av, af RS,4 sal PAes
and increased cost of materials has
caused total increase in the operating
costs of the property of nearly 100 per
cent, comparing the month Of August
just passed with the corresponding
month Of 1914. Over the August figures
month just passed shows an increase Of
SO per cent.
Reference is made to the new wage
scale recently put into effect, which,
1t Is stated, will add approximately
$40O, 900 to the company's annual pay
roll. The average rate now paid its
car men Is given at II cents an hour.
an increase OF 81 per cent In less
than three years. Wages Of other
employees rose proportionately.
Prices Of Materials.
Concerning the cost of materials.
the increases here have been even
clared, than those for labor. Coal, a
large factor in the cost Of operation,
has jumped in price from $3.37 ton,
in 1914. to SEAS a ton, at the present
time. an increase of GIL per cent.
per cent in the cost Of materials are
shown in the exhibits. Truck springs.
for example. cost 200 per cent more
now than they did in 1914. Wheel
rails have gone up 90 per cent and
slot rails 81 per cent. Conductor rails
have advanced $50 per cent in cost:
while iron castings show jump Of
100 per cent Practically all In
creases are in excess of 100 per cent
The company states that the fare
now paid by street car riders in the
District is exceeded in almost every
other city in the country. Requests for
increases in fare have been made and
granted by commissions and other
rate-makng bodies in 246 cities At
the United States, it asserts
The company calculates that II the
present scale of wages had been in
effect during 1914, 1915, 1915 and 1917
it would have been unable during
the first two years even to pay its inter-
est charges, while in the year 1917, by
far the most prosperous year Of its
history, a net income of only $2O6, 600
or less than 2 per cent of its capital
stock. would have been earned. and
that in the whole period of four years
and eight months there would have
been earned a total amount Of only
ss74S95 for distribution among the
stockholders Of the company.