New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-19
TROLLEY FARES
Low, MANAGER SA
High Taxes and Unfair Comped
ton Put Conn. Go. in Bad Way
RELIEF NEEDED AT ONCE
John X. Pumderford, General Manager,
Tells Chamber of Commerce That
This state Arc Very Bad.

This state Arc Very Bad.
J. X Punderford, e-president
and general manager of the Connec-
ticut company, addressed the noon
day luncheon of the ChamberA of
Commerce at the Hotel Beloin today,
discussing at length the trolley situa-
ton as it exists in this state. Mr..
Punderford alleged that the company
is overburdened with state-imposed
charges, is compelled to submit to un-
fair competition, carries passengers
entirely too far on one fare, and con-
ditions in general have reached such
chaotic state that the street rail-
ways of Connecticut must have quick
relief.
The gravity of the situation war;
rants careful consideration said Mr..
Punderford in commenting on the bill
before the general assembly to create
commission to study the street rail-
WaN situation in the state. Il fear if
a thorough diagnosis is not speedily
made that an autopsy will reveal that
treatment should have been admin
iStered."
Trolley Fares Too Low.
Mr. Punderford explained how the
length of ride had been increased
from the days of horse-car riding to
the present, showing that it is posi-
Bile for a passenger to ride 8.3 miles
in New Britain for six cents, which,
said MI. Punderford, "is out of all
reason" On other parts of the Con-
necticut cOmpany's system 1t is posi-
BILE for passengers to ride from nine
to II miles for six cents. This un
profitable service, together with the
great increase in cost of trolley cars,
increases in the wages of motorme EN-
and conductors and all other en-
ployes greatly increased costs of all
materials used in the generation of
power, and the maintenance Of cars
and their operati ton have brought
about a situation so critical that relief
Is absolutely necessary If the people
are to have street railway service in
the future, said Mr.. Punderford.
Tho Fare Problem.
Discussing the fare problem, Mr..
Punderford said: "Undoubtedly a
fare system which would allow riding
within a reasonably restricted area in
the center Of cities for a fare of five
upon a mileage basis for further rides
outside Of this area, would be more
nearly equitable than the present
system but no method without seri-
Gus flaws has vet been found to col
lect and account for fares on this
basis We of the street railway indus
try are giving this method Of collect
ing fares serious thought at this time
in an endeavor to arrive at a system
which will allow the companies to
continue to operate and still be fair
to the passenger
Under present conditions Mr.. Pun
derford said that it is almost impos-
sible to build extensions of trolley
lines in rural districts, although these
extensions are desired by many peO-
pie. He called attention to the fact
that charters for various lines IN rural
territory had been renewed by sue
cessive general assent blieS but no
work has been done upon them chief
w for the reason that there is little
prospect of their being profitable or
even making ends meet in present cir
cumstances
Economy and Service.
The Connecticut company is using
every means of economy known to
the street railway art in order to keep
down expenses and keep up the
standard of service, said Mr.. Punder-
ford But these economies are insult
ficient in vew of the heavy burdens
placed upon the street railway indus
try by the state. He said that some
of the larger items Of expense, are
street paving, contributions toward
the costs of bridges, and the state tax.
Street paving in recent years has cost
the Connecticut company on an aver
age of $4,000 a year.
The large pavement costs i'm
posed upon the company and ulti-
mately paid for by the street car
rider seem against the public inter
est said Mr.. Punderford, "i7asmuch
as the street car rider is paying for
pavement used by the jitneys for pri-
vate gain and by persons able to own
automobiles for their own use"
Mr.. PunderfOrd said that the Con-
neCticut company's contribution to the
cost of bridges varies greatly from
year to year, but in recent years it
had averaged about the same as the
cost of paving, or approximately
100000 a year
The Connecticut company pays
taxes to the state at the rate of 4 IL