Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-24


n1ahmond. now cashier Of the Com
R9rcial National Bank of this city, ad-
fnnces the theory that the accounting
Gfstem rs planned by the Interstate
Commerce Commission has been large
II responsible for the troubles that
ADHa come upon both the railroads
4nA the street railway companies of
IL nation.
Ehe fault. according to his views.
Hes in the matter of depreciation in
sinking fund charges It stands to
cempon sense that IL the life of a
railroad or street railway car is ten
Hasa sinking fund charges each year
- the life OF the car should be 10 per
eent OF its valuation, so that at the
exDiration of the ten years. when the
e4r Is tunked. there will be ready and
Available the desired amount for the
H1rchase Of the new car. A sinking
f1n1s0f depreciation charge based on
reestDtss makes no provision for re-
p3ocement at expiration of usefulness
The only reason why this argument
yin not stand, he says. is because cost
e material Is not stationary.
sCAy trust notes would be secured by
NaEtR5ess collateral. provided no pro-
y4ldoH4 were made for the wear and
teAf OF the cars through a sinking
1Qpd The cost of the cars is here a
Mr.. Cadwallader has elsewhere an
Interesting article on reproduction
costs. which he holds should be care
fuuy considered in the matter of
--on. the physical property of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company.
sNo More Rides for a Nickel.
Under this caption, the current num-
bar of the Literary Digest calls at
tention TO the steadily advancing
casts Of operating street railways and
TIE certainty of fares mounting
The Omaha world-Herald. Senator
Hitchcock's paper, declares that 1.-The
day of the scent street car fare is
son to pass"
Roger w. Babson. the statisticfan,
quoted as not believing in the
but he does believe '-in to Is cent
street. car fares" Traction officials
qzciare in practically all cities that
labor has boosted it's share 100 per
oxeased in ratio.
cetver, ID responsible for all the street
railways In the heart Of New York
cease to be a part of the community
Ire" while the mayor Of the same
city declares that "the day of the
surface street cars has gone forever"
Ahese opinions are given without
No one has suggested an elevated
line for Washington as yet. The
highly priced beauty Of the city would
he ruined Neither has the necessity
OF subway lines been brought for
ward.
~ was stated here recently that
s1xty-two companies, with 5,912 miles
OF tracks, were in. the hands of re-
cefvers.
Service at Cost.
Cleveland, Detroit, Toledo, Boston,
Montreal and Dallas are working on
the service-at-cost plan.
The New York World says: "The
nye-cent fare is a business necessity
because the whole theory of city life
WITH IT'S suburbs; so essential to pub
lie morals and health, is built upon
IL and 1t cannot be disarranged with
opt Immense economic dislocation"
The World also wonders 'if IL is too
late to relieve the roads by cutting
out exorbitant capitalization and re-
ments, without destroying the five
<cent fare"
Mr.. Babson declares that "the FIVE
tent rare. except for very short hauls.
is doomed"
There is no assurance from con-
ductors and drivers that il they are
granted the increase demanded they
will not be back in another six
months for another increase.
During the strikes on elevated and
surface lines in Chicago recently
tuck MIN charged passengers Is
way hauls on the West Side and
served all they could carry. standing
. sitting and on the tail board.
Yer1lysS the streat. railway problem