Evening star., 1919-04-14
BURNED CARS MAY
NOT Be REPLACED
w. R. & e. Believed to Lack
Funds to Make Up for
Incinerated Equipment.
INSURANCE Insufficient

Replacement of the thirty-one cars
destroyed in the lexington car barn
fire. at 4th and T streets northeast,
several weeks ago is being held up, it
was learned today, on account of the
financial difficulties of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company.
While the building and cars were
insured. the insurance. it is said.
probably won't cover more than half
of the damage to the barn. estimated
more than so per cent Of the cars. on
account of the present high cost OF
labor. materials and equipment
About s135.000 worth Of cars and
The City and Suburban Company.
an auxiliary of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company, suffered
this damage. According to testimony
given before the Public Utilities Com
mission at the rate hearing week be-
fore last, the City and Suburban Com
pany for the year ended December
81, 1918, earned but s5,343 over its
fixed charges.
During the past four months, under
said by its officials today, has failed
by S15,522 to meet it's fixed charges
This would indicate an annual loss OF
about $4,000.
Receivership May Be Unavoidable.
1t has been intimated that IL q re-
ceivership is found to be unavoidable
for the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. the subsidiary
companies operating the suburban
lines would be the first to be affected,
In any event. the City and Suburban
Company, ii was stated. is now run
ming at loss and means have been
devised for replacing all the cars
damaged in the recent fire.
Will Continue to Operate.
Report that the Washington ard
Great Falls Railway and Power COM
pany, which operates a line through
Maryland to Great Falls, would dis
continue operations on account OF
lack of funds was denied by its Off.
cials today.
1t was stated that the company 30
running at loss, and has been for
long time, but that arrangements have
been made to carry it along tempo
rarily, at least. This concern rents
both power and cars from the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company.
The report that it would shut down has
been widely circulated throughout the
territory that the line serves.
Another big municipal traction sys-
tenn has gone into receivers hands, ac-
Soi olHS W ISCclscu Oy
government officials here. 1t is the
United Railways OF St. Louis, control
ling 45S miles of track. The company
had been operating on a six-cent fare
for six months, but found It could not
longer meet expenses. Rolla A. Wells,
a former mayor of st. Louis, has been
appointed receiver.
Civic Bodies to Attend.
| Civic associations Of the District
are expected to be well represented
at the meeting to be held tomorrow
night in the District building, at
which questions will be framed for
presentation to the Washington Rail-
! way and Electric Company relative
| to the company's application for fnan-
cial relief.
President westlake of the Fedora
tion of Citizens Associations has
asked the presidents and chairmen
of utilities committee Of all citizens
associations and other bodies inter-
ested in Washington's street car
fproblem to attend this meeting.
1t also is desired that associations
| in Maryland representing territories
dependent upon Washington's sub
urban car lines send delegates to this
| NEE ting. The questions to be framed
will be sent to the railway company
Wednesday and the answers Of the
company will be submitted at q mass
meeting to be held in the District
| building Friday night.