The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-01
PROBING STREET
RAILWAY TROUBLES
Editorial from the Baltimore, Md News of July
16, 1919.


vet been made of the present status of the street.
railway companies of the country is one published
in the New York Sun outlining the reasons for the
appointment of the Federal Electric Railways
Commission. which is now holding hearings at,
Washington The following two paragraphs
epitonize the whole situation:
More than half of the street railways OF the
country are in receivers hands or threatened with
financial ruin because Of increased war costs and
Discrimination of communities to pay more Tor
Transportation Efforts during the war to get
federal intervention were unavailing because the
President and his advisers felt that the problems
were purely those affecting matters over Wnlcn
the Federal Government had no jurisdiction.
With many cities threatened with collapse OF
street railway service however, the PRESIDENT ap-
pointed the Federal Commission to find a solution
if possible.
The Commission has no authority to enforce
its judgments, but it is expected that it's recon-
mendations will be generally accepted by the
municipalities affected All the moral force OF
the Federal Government will be behind the Com
mission. which was organized with representa-
tives of many Federal departments here besides
authorities on the questions involved.
Statistics produced by Mr.. James w. Welsh
that. on May 81, 81 companies with 5912 miles OF
single track were in the hands of receivers; that
80 companies with track mileage of 763 had
been iunked; and that 38 companies with 257
track miles, had been abandoned. This is nearly
Is per cent of all the street railways IN the coun-
try The decrease in net income OF $40 companies
during 1913, compared with 1917, amounted to "a
per cent while operating revenues increased only
about per cent Operating expenses in 1917
were placed for these companies at $36l ,OOO,OOO,
and for 1918 at S426, 100000. Net income in 1917
was Sal 300 1894 and in 1913 it was only SlO7l2,726
Tt is as well to face the facts directly. While
the destiny of particular street railway system is
Individually local concern, the fact that trolley
companies the country over are facing similar
prospects should awaken the separate municipali-
ties to the fact that they have not to deal with
isolated cases of Encouragement, or profiteer-
ing or what not, but that they must find means
of coping with a condition which now is the rule
rather than the exception.
Tt is to be regretted that the prewar condi-
tons of cordiality between the public service cor
porations and the public have apparently turned
into desperation on the part OF the former, ano
thinly yelled hostility in the case OF the latter But
nothing-not even the advent of Mr. Ford's long
contemplated superflivver-can alter the FACT
that the street railways and the public are abso
lutely interdependent. The railways can hardly
be blamed if they are the ones who force the &C
ton The investment of the passenger IN the troll
lev begins and ends with the fare he pays; but the
companies which must look ahead, can see moth
ing but receivership or the more doubtful altern
alive of communication. Realization on the par
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