Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-22
Steamboat Fares Be-
tween Belfast Slesb0rO

Steamboat Fares BE-
tween Belfast Islesboro
A decision was rendered THURSDAY
by the Public Utilities Commission
in the case Of Bernes O. Norton OF
Belfast and others against the East.
ern Bay Steamboat company Stains
that the company may within 80 and
upon one days notice to the commits
sion and the public, revise its SEIZED
ule of passenger rates 80 that there
after the charge for Z single trip be-
tween Belfast and Islesboro in either
direction may be 50 cents and the
charge for a round trip between the
same points in either direction shall
be Is cents, plus any war tax, such
round trip ticket being limited to one
day. The decision says In part:
In this case the commission issued
its order, dated June 10, 1919. and
among other things required the com.
pany to revise its schedule of pas
senger fares by providing a round
trip ticket between Belfast and Isles
boro in either direction, to be had for
so, cents plus any war tax: and by
supplemental order. order dates June
10. 1919. required the company to file
a schedule providing for single trip
between the above named points in
either direction at IS cents.
The company complied with this
order. and has since been rendering
service at these rates.
Under date Of July 18th, the COM
pany requested that we modify our
order to the extent of re-instating
the former fare Of so cents a single
trip and Is for a round trip. limited
to one day. Upon this request the
gave notice that the fore
going orders were re-opened for fur
Their hearing. and set the matter for
hearing at Belfast on July %. 1918.
The original compliments and the
company were represented as above
indicated. and notice was proved to
have been given as ordered.
- Inasmuch as the application for
re-hearing and revision of the origi-
nal order came from the company the
commission ruled that the burden of
PROOF rested upon the respondent.
and this burden was assumed. and
the company produced a considerable
number of witnesses to practically
the same effect. This testimony in
dicated that for a period of more
than 30 years the single trip fare be-
tween Belfast and Islestoro in either
had been SO cents and the
round trip fare IS cents except dur
ing period of five or six years when
there was steamboat war between
rival companies. The. testimony
showed that as a result Of this con-
test for business each of the COM
panies lost money and one or more
Of them was financially wrecked and
put out of business. The witnesses
further stated that in their opinion
no company could render passenger
service at less than the amount re-
quested by the respondent.
Upon the other hand a dozen or
more witnesses gave it as their opin-
ion that the proposed fare was en-
tirely unreasonable and particularly
so in view of substantial increase
in freight rates not long ago. put in
effect by the respondent company.
The reasoning Of these witnesses was
to the effect that inasmuch as the
freight business constituted by far
the larger proportion of the COM
pany's transportation activities, and
inasmuch as prices charged for such
freight transportation were in the
opinion of the witnesses quite high
the passenger business might we'll be
at figure sufficiently low
to enable the patrons Of the line to
fell that they~were having some con-
cessions. No attempt was made to
show the exact cost of conducting
the passenger business and it was
probably not susceptible Of exact as
The company contend
ed that with the present high prices
Of coal and labor and the unusual
cost of repairs and maintenance there
ought to be no reduction in any
branch Of the revenues Of the com.
pany.
In addition to the testimony Of
the witnesses at the hearing the com
pany presented petition signed by
more than 100 individuals, each one
Of whom was testified to be a patron
Of the line, and these signers re-
luested the commission to allow the
company to charge its patrons at
least so cents for the one-way fare
and IS cents for the round trip
limited to one day.
The gross passenger receipts for
the Belfast-Islesboro division be-
tween July 10 and August 10 were a
little in excess Of SGT. This indi-
Gates that the volume of business ia
not large, and so far as the companv
is concerned the Reinstatement ~
the former fares would make a differ.
ence in dollars and cents that would
almost seem inconsequentiaI.
1T would also seem as though the
just at this time might veil
have refrained from putting in opera
lion the machinery necessitatinv a
public hearing and the stirring up of
the feelings Of its customers, but In
asmuch as the matter has hear
before us in this formal wav
upon the merits must be
THE evidence presented indicates
1ot only a willingness but an appar-
ent desire upon the part Of a large
lumbcr of patrons Of this line to pay
higher rate Of fare. Those wit
lesses who appeared stated that the
service rendered by the respondent
vas the best which had ever been
that the management was
apparently at all times ready to give
ancient and courteous attention and
and In appreciation Of this
he patrons felt that q fair price
should be paid. This is the desire OF
he company's customers and the