Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-17
No Fare Rise Hint
in Report of p. II. 4.


Continued From PAGE Ono
more than $4,000. 900 and absorbed
81. go per cent Of the earnings.
S1I .845, 5000 The fixed charges of
81, ,929, ,S13. 81 deducted from that sum,
left n surplus of 81 ,S76. 80, com
pared with the surplus In 1913 of ST.
634 ,S163S.
Carmen in this city, the report states,
receiving n maximum rate of fifty eight
cents an hour, now average $5.51 day,
contrasted with IS day in Cleveland
and 10 day in Detroit.
Discussing improved service TO the
public. the report says:
"Salesmanship is here demonstrated
by the efforts of motormep to pick up all
the fares and by the alertness and
courtesy Of conductors who endeavor to
make the car ride more agreeable cx'
perience." 90
Reference was made to tbc company's
plan prior to 1914 to extend the Market
street subway directly to Camden. That
and other projects, It Is stated, were
made impossible through the company's
loss Of credit. due, IL was said. to the
city transit departments attitude tow
ard company revenues.
Policy Is Outlined
Outlining the company's policy, the
report states:
'Tbe policy of this management has
been set against permitting the property
to be used for private gain. The great
est good to the greatest number deter
mines every decision in the matter of
service to the public. 1t matters not
what particular person or interest bene-
fits from the imposition of an unfair
burden. The point is that the cost should
not be made an added burden to the
car riding public -,
The company estimates that one bill
| lion passengers will be carried this year.
Eight hundred and seventy two million
riders were carried last year: To give
relief from taffic congestion the follow
ing suggestions were made:
e'Rearrangement of streets and traf-
fic with enforcement of traffic regula-
tions to avoid unnecessary delay to.
"Uncorking the bottle neck of Mar
ket street traffic at Penn Square by
resetting the tracks around City Hall
plaza or operating cars directly through
Market street passugeway at City Hall.
Completing construction and equip
mept of Frankford L. so that it may be
operated as part OF the Market street
system during the winter of 1870.
Transit Program Continued
Turning to the city's transit program
the report declared:
"Origfnally estimated to cost $685.
800, 600, the city's transit program as
now authorized is estimated to cost more
than double that amount. These plans,
if now carried out, would place Phila-
delphia in like position with Boston,
where I'D to this time over 50 900 600
has been charged to general taxation to
make I'D the loss in street railway
operation. Ten-cent fares are there
exacted.
"The city has been educated into the
belief that its interest would be best
served by such an arrangement as would
contemplate n commitment on the part
of the company TO operate all of the
city lines hereafter to be constructed.
The making of such an agreement on the
part of the company. upon fair terms,
should serve to stabilize the situation
and remove the transit question from
constant discussion aud undue critl-
Cism. %
'If operated, however, as a part of
the existing system aud Of a necessity
largely supported by p. II. It's present
and prospective earnings, such new lines
and extensions as are undertaken should
be planned, SO as to supplement, extend
and increase the carrying capacity OF
the present system. If this be done
wisely and we'll, not much more than
half of the amount row estimated as re
auired to complete the city's authorized
system will be required to provide adc-
quate accommodations.