The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-13
TRACTION COMPANY
ASKS FOR ADVANCE
in PASSENGER RATE
Milwaukee Light, Heat and Traction
Company Wants Increase OF "a
Cent n Mile From the Railway
Rate Commission.

Watertown people who travel on the
electric line between here and MllWau-
kee will soon pay a larger rate ii the
raise asked for from the Railway Kate
Commission is granted.
The Milwaukee Light, Heat and
Traction company is planning to raise
the fares on its lines by increasing the
mileage rate from 2 cents per mile to
"a cents. 1t petitioned the Railroad
Commission on January 81 for author
ity to make this increase. A hearing
on the companys application will be
held in Milwaukee on Friday, March
10.
w. A. Jackson, representing the
company, was in the city Tuesday and
dropped in informally to see the city
officials He explained the purpose of
the company's petition and showed
the financial results of the operation
of the railway department of the Mil
waukee, Light Heat and Traction COM
pany, which owns the interurban lines,
during the last several years. Mr..
Jackson said:
81 called on the mayor and city at
torney to explain to them in advance
of the hearing before the Railroad
Commission, the reasons underlying
the application of the traction COM
pany to increase fares IA of a cent
per passenger mile. The present fare
was established in January 1914 and
at that time the Railroad Commission
estimated that the rate Of fare should
be "a cents per mile if the business
was to be compensatory, The COM
pany did not believe it would be wise
to establish a rate of fare as high as
pa cents and agreed to accept a fare
OF cents per mile.
Since that fare became established
the company has been required to ado
materially to its property and its oper-
ating expenses have substantially in
creased. For the year ended June 80
1914, the percent interest earned upon
the cost of the property was 4.01 per
cent; for the year ended June 80 1915
Sol per cent; for the year ended June
80, 1916, 3.16 per cent; for the year
ended June 80, 1917, 1856 per cent and
for twelve monthe ended October 1917
1872 per cent. The rate Of interest
earned has accordingly been less dur
ing the last three eyars than it was
during the year ended June 80, 1914
six mOnthe after the installation of the
commissions fare of cents per mile
The company is now experiencing
in
and has no way of compromising these
except through collecting higher fares
from its patrons. 1t is thus in the
same position as the grocery store
dry goods store and shoe maker. We
all have to increase our revenues in
costs. In 1917 copper wire cost so per
cent more than 1915, aXles 172 per cent
more, car forgings 116 per cent, cast
ings about so per cent, car wheels 81
per cent, tie plates 176 per cnt, brass
castings so per cent, coal 100 per cent
In the month Of January the operating
expenses absorbed practically all OF
the receipts and left nothing to pay
interest on bonds or dividends on share
capital
The development of the package ex-
press business will do something tow
ard keeping down the rate to be paiG
by passengers because this additiona
business permits the distribution OF
common charges over two classes OF
business rather than requiring it to be
spread over only one. We do not an
ticipate any serious opposition to the
proposed increase in passenger fares
because everyone realizes from his
own experience that costs have gone
up and many people have inquired
how it is that we have kept fares a
their old level for so long a time. W.
are DESTROYS of reidering to our pat
rons the best possible service within
the means at our command and w,
are glad to receive suggestions tend
ing toward its Improvement"