The Washington herald., 1920-03-01
HIGH CARFARES.
PREVAILIN U. S.
Harlow c. Clark, Writing in
Traction Co. Magazine,
Gives Statistics.
WERE FORCED, HE SAYS
Increased Rates Called
Experiment" Which
Proved Successful.

OF the 273 cities in the United
States having a population OF more
than $4,000 only fifty-six have
failed to increase their street car
fares. says Harlow C. Clark. writ
Z ing in the February issue of
-Aera." the oficial organ of the
American Electric Railway Asso-
citation.
More than seventy-five different
rates of fare prevail in these cities.
the author declares, ranging from
q 10-cent cash fare and ticket, ef-
.fective in twelve cities to scent
cash fare, 3b-cent ticket effective
in Columbus, Ohio.
In all but fifteen of the sixty
nine cities having more than 100.-
900 population the cash fare is
more than cents; in forty of the
sixty-two cities between $4,000 and
100000 1t is more than cents and
in los of the 142 cities having less
than $4,000 it is more than cents.
Where Fares Increased.
In Colorado, Connecticut, Della
ware. District of Columbia, Illi-
nois. Maine, Maryland. Massachu-
setts. Missouri. New Hampshire,
New Jersey, North Carolina, Ore
gon, South Carolina. Rhode Island
and Virginia the fares in every
city OF more than $4,000 have been
increased. OF New York's twenty
Two cities having more than $4,000
only two remain without increase.
statistics indicate the scent car
fare is fast following the scent fare
into oblivion. Today it is more than
cents In lis cities. In more than
half Of the 15s cities in which in
April, 1913. fares higher than 5
= cents were effective. further in
creases have been made.
The costs of supplying electric
transportation have increased 100
per cent over those of 1914. A part
OF the increase has been absorbed
by cutting down expenses. but the
greater part had to be met by fare
increases" says the Aera-
Service Cost Varies.
The cost of the service varies
greatly. In Boston, the fare under
service at cost operation is 10 cents;
In Cleveland. cents. with 1 cent
extra for transfers. The fare in
Boston has been increased 100 Der
cent since 1914; in Cleveland the
limit of increase was Sc per cent.
and today is more than 40 per cent.
1T is impossible to forecast any
point at which street car fares will
hnally rest in equilibrium with
high fares result in decrease in rev.
enue because they discourage rid
ing. Experience seems to disprove
this contention. Under a s. and
Scent fare the Boston Elevated
Railway Company accumulated pro-
gressfVe deficits. Under a 1O-cent
fare it is not only earning the full
cost Of service. but a snplus as
we'll
1T is evident that the present DC
riod is one of experiment with
varying systems OF fare. In April.
1919. ten companies were operating
under some form of zone system,
At the present time twenty-seven
companies are so operating
2. "One of the most interesting ex-
periments now being tried is that
by which ths/public trustees are
operating the Eastern Massachu-
setts Street Railway Company. Here
one of the largest operating COM
panies in the country has parti-
toned its territory into fare dis.
tricts. each with an important mu-
nicipality as center. The fare in
each of these districts is regulated
on a service at cost basis in accord
ance with the cost of operation in
that particular district.
Little Municipal Ownership.
'Twenty-one cities are now oper.
ating under service at cost agree.
ments. In ten the fare Is 10 cents
cash and ticket; in one. it is IL
cents cash. S1-3 cents ticket Ir
two of the cities included in the
statistics, San Francisco and Seat.
tile. the street railways are mum.
cipally owned and operated. The
fare in each is cents, and in each
case the road is operated at loss
In San Francisco this loss now
amounts to about $1,000 a month
. which is being withdrawn from the
depreciation reserve.
I'm $50 of the 217 cities in which
fares have been increased. the in
crease has been the result of actor
Of State commissions; in "A of muni-
cipal authorities; in two of courts
{, and in 81 of automatic regulation
under a service at cost plan. Ir
Minneapolis and Denver ordinances
embracing service at cost have beer
defeated by the electorate.
I'm connection with the rate oi
fare now prevailing in American
cities, II must be remembered that
all these roads are operating upor
q starvation basis"