Evening star., 1920-04-04
BY LEONARD ORMEROD.

[(I ENRY FORD hit the street
~ car industry a blow be-
tween the eyes" said a
prominent economist. who
testified before the Federal Electric
Railway Commission in Washington
last fall, but statistics just compiled
would indicate that, whatever may be
the matter with street car systems
sulting In a lack of passengers is not
one of them.
Last year there were on the average
135 street car rides taken by every
man. woman and child in the larger
cities of the United States. Ten years
ago the average in the same cities
was little more than 10S rides for
every person. During that time. ac-
cording to statistics compiled by Stone
and Webster of Boston. the population
of the cities in question increased 42.3
per cent, and the business of the trac-
ton companies increased u per cent.
Indicating that the street car Is To-
day "the peoples vehicle" more than
ever before.
Increased fares and further economy
in operation have to some extent re-
lieved the conditions that were de-
scribed as acute less than year ago
but keenest interest attaches to the
report of the Federal Electric Railway
Commission, which is expected within
the next few weeks. In many quar-
ters this increase is ascribed to a
large extent to information obtained
at the hearings in Washington last
fall and given wide publicity
Report Of Commissi0n Soon Due.
The report of the commission OF
nine, appointed by President wilson
to INQUIRE into all phases of the elec-
tric railway situation and make
recommendations for remedying 1t.
will be the most important event In
street railway circles in recent years.
No intimation has come from mem
bers of the commission. which Is ex-
pected to meet in Washington TINS
week or next, as to what they may
recommend, or even if they are in
agreement, but it is probable they will
recommend one of the following four
plans as generally desirable:
Higher fares for all patrons.
Zone fares.
Service-at-cost plan, as followed In
Cleveland and elsewhere
Municipal ownership.
Men of greater or less experience
and representing a variety OF inter-
ests gave their, opinions as to the de-
STABILITY of all the foregoing plans.
proponents and opponents being found
for each of them. Certain it is that
the commission will suggest some
m method for turning more nickels and
dimes into the tills of the car COM
panies, for the evidence showed des-
perate financial situation in respect
to many traction lines.
\ During the last eight months of the
year 1919 increased fares were grant
ed in 101 large cities of the United
States, affecting some 100000 per-
sons out Of total Of 45.000.000 served
by electric lines. but whether the in
crease was enough to meet the need
has not been determined. There are
now 1S5 cities paying a 6-cent fare,
147 paying a 7-cent fare, 81 with an
cent fare. 1 with Scent fare and
So with a 10-cent fare.
Operating Costs Reach Peak.
Street car company officials and
owners in the larger cities have ex-
pressed the belief that operating
costs reached their peak during the
latter part of last year. Except for
rticles made of wood. the price has
remained stationary for two or three
months. and there have been only
ominal number of strikes and labor
disturbances during the last six
months in that Industry.
Experience has shown that where