The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-05-16
An Open Letter
to the Citizens ofAlbuquerque

m~~~u~M~~mmmUuAn
Three wear ago last s,rurla, the present management took charge
of the street railway system Of Albuquerque, which, IS all persons then
residents OF this city will remember, was then in an exceedingly d'caycd
condition to the extent that the ears were objectionable to many persons
to ride im and the track was in such - shape that deraHel cars aud aot
dents were common, and the service frequently had to be discontinued for
hours a a time.
In he firm belief that Albuquerque was a sufficient, prosperous and
well developed city to support Il first class street railway, and that the cit.
liens would respond both by their friendship and patronage, We expended
ears and in the rebuilding OF almost the mtirc sy.rcm. aud have now what
has been described by competent authority the BEST equipped street rail
way system in The United States FOR u city the size of ours
We wish to take this opperu@i'y of thanking the citizens Of AISu.
has been accorded Il w in This enterprise, and We in turn hop" and pledge
ourselves to do everything possible to Justify the continuance Of the pres.
rnt existing relations, recognizing fully tn" fact that unless w can be Of
srrvic" 'o III" people, we ourselves cannot prosper.
The COMPANY, however is confronted with IA very extraordinary stu.
alton. The cost Of every kind Of material used in the operation OF the rail.
road has increased enormously. Copper wire. which formerly cost re aud
I4c a pound. now costs oycr Mc IA pound Steel rails formerly cost ss n
ton, nov cost over 81" ton. Every kind of wcarablc parts have increased
aday now charges $500 although he still pays only nickel for the service
We render him in transporting him to and from his work,
Our motormn. although We hay" increased their wages twice during
the past two years, are. in their private lives confronted witt the same
situation and we a" DESTROYS OF giving tAcm a further incl'"S" in pay
TIL" only source OF rc'rnurt q a street railway is the nickel fare placed in
possible for II to continue to pay higher and higher prices for all material
purchase and for all labor used, unless " e III turn IA collect more money
for the service We render
wcconnot. however, reasonably rSrc, any increase in tn" number of
""'E ''''"' 49, ''"N " w '"N y
irons who now travel in automobiles, and because tn" continued military
draft occasoncd by the war actually is reducing the population " serve,
and there is nothing in sight that would warrant a assumption of any
material Increase of III" population in n" ncar future,
IT our cars wcrcf filled with passengers al all times, 10 would b. pm"
Sbc to operate prodtably even at a reduced fare, hut we do not at this
twcmycia6t. At certain hours of the day it costs us over Toe for every
passenger carried because of the small trade W" are, therefore, con
n~t"d with two alternatives either W. must, as has been done in some
cities. reduce the service, operating ears only where and when it il prof
itablr, or We must increase the rat" of fare charged
After giving all due consideration to the subject. We bcltrv" that the
citizens OF Albuquerque, almost all Of whom are now earning considerably
more money than they were two years ago, would prefer to continue tn"
present high grade service even AT II little extra rate of fare, than ia have
Ms maintain only an Intermittent service. operating on q cheaper basis
We believe YOU want high grade motorm,n who are courteous to passeu-
gers clean and uniform in appearance, and of sufficient skill to carry you
IN safety W" believe YOU want clean, well appearing cars.
We could possibly reduce our expenses by employing a cheaper class
of men. and by saving money on cleaning our caie We could. and might,
in which ease it would he inevitable that We would in the course Of two 0r
three years. as has been the ease of other street railways who have been
draicd adequate revenues, permit the system TO decay.
We have invited The city commissioners as duly credited represent
athcs of The citizens. to appoint Ouc of their number to verify all OF the
facts above Sat~l. and We will demonstrate absolutely the fact that The lc
passenger extra will not cover tn" additional costs of material and labor
to MS, compared with the cost 0t same two years ago. including a 10 per
cent increase in pay to mr. motorncl,
We Therefore propose ON and after june /. 1918. TO sell tickets valid
on all our lines with transfer. at eighteen for SlOO,. which is 5lac per trip,
or 6c for u single cash fare and confidently ask the citizens OF Ahuquor.
que TO appreciate the above situation by continuing to extend their patron
improve wherever possible the highgrodc service We are now rendering.
CITY COMPANY