The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-09-25
Talk 0fDrOpping
ALI Non-Paying
Lines In state

With more than half Of the riding
population of Bridgeport and suburbs
standing pat for a five cent far and,
the continuance and improvement Of
the bus service, the Connecticut Co.
is ready to throw up its hands is the
well founded report in this city today.
That this condition also prevails
confirmed by admissions Of Connec-
ticut Co. officials themselves that the
lines are not paying operating eX-
penses and that patronage is steadily
falling off more bus lines are es-
tabliShed. 1t is admitted in we'll in
formed circles that within very
short time there will be a general
suspension of trolley lines through
out the state which are marked UP
AS non-profitable lines.
Leading authorities and writer's in
the latest publications of magazines
specializing in trolley discussions are
agreed that Connecticut faces a. crisis
in the electric transportation circles.
In a few localities efforts have been
made to organize local co-operative
companies to take over such lines as
the Shore line at Guilford but the
moving spirits in these proposed COM
panies have found that it is extremely
difficult to borrow money to resusci-
tate defunct trolley lise.
In all probabilities the suspension
will take place in Bridgeport very
soon according to the best informa-
to press. It is an acknowledged fact
that the residents of Stratford, Devon,
Walnut Beach; on the lines leading to
the Lake Torpedo Boat plant; on
the Stratfield lines have steadily re-
fused to ride the trolleys; the 7-cent
fare and slow service being the rea-
son assigned by them for their per-
sistent boycott of the trolleys. Sew
eral petitions have been presented to
the board of aldermen asking for the
restoration of buses on those hneS'
in the city limits of Bridgeport and
for the establishment of new lines to
further facilitate the service rendered
by the buses.
Assistant to the President Flick
enger of the Connecticut company in
statement to The Times at noon
today said: "It is too early for US to
giveout any comparative statement
on the receipts of the trolley cars in
Bridgeport. What the situation is
today may be very materially altered
in, say two weeks from now. The
cars are running and we are trying
to give the best service possible under
the circumstances. If the riding in
the future justiies further improves
ments or more cars the public will
be given that service. The whole
transportation problem so far as the
trolleys are concerned hinges entire
| ly on the economic isSdes presented.
:sDo you think that there will be a
! suspension of trolley service on sew
| eral non-proftab1e lines throughout
| the state" Mr.. F1lckenger was asked.
"On that. matter we have no def
mite program mapped out yet" was
| his reply. "The matter is under
serious consideration and it is an adj
| mitted fact that practically every
| trolley line in the state is operating
at a loss at the present time. What
| the future will present I am unable
| to say
| .sDo you think there will be a sus-
pension of the trolleys in Bridgeport
! soon?"
/ sewell we will run for a while yet,
anyhow" was his comment
| At the local offices no information
| was available, but there is a decid-
| edly pessimistic attitude prevalent
| CONTINUED on Page Six.)