The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-30

very low ebb, and the railway equip ment insufficient in amount and in bad condition. Combined coal and water gas was then manufactured and distributed. but the gas service was poor. The electric department was normal.
 "The commissions engineer has from time to time made investigations of the property and reported to us We have also been aided by the op- erating reports furnished by the re- ceiver.
 SOME DEVELOPMENTS
 "The following developments are recorded:
 "(1) From the beginning of the re- ceivership, a slow but gradual inn provement in the railway service was made.
 "(2) Shortly after the receivership a new water-gas set was constructed, which afforded temporary relief. About November 1, 1920, coke oven gas was introduced and is now being sup piled
 "(3) In August, 1919, a strike of the trainment and shopmen seemed imminent A large increase in wages was granted by contract for a term of three years from September 1, 1919. This was fol- lowed by wage increases to all other employees. On September 4, 1919, we authorized an increase in the railway fare from tents to cents. and the railways have since operated on that basis. The additional revenue from the increase in the railway fare has proved to be somewhat more than the wage increase to the trainmen and shopmen, but less than the total in- crease ito all employees. The electric rate has not been disturbed. Gas rates following the recent introduction of coke oven gas, have been slightly re- duced.
 WHAT TT MEANS
 "(G The increase Of one cent in the railway fare operated to increase the gross revenue from all departments ap- proximately z F per cent, and therefore increased; the cost to the public by only that percentage. -he increase now applied for would approximately double that percentage and amount to approximately IS per cent total in crease to the public for all services performed by the utilities involved
 "(5) Imm mediately following the in- crease of the railway fare to 6 cents 25 safety cars were bought and new motor sets purchased for installation on the cars on hand. The railway shops have since been operated to their capacity. The new cars were placed In operation in January, 1920. The old cars thereby released were put through the shops as rapidly as It's capacity would permit and thereafter placed in operation on one line after another and this process has continued with out interruption until nearly all of the motor equipment has been put in good condition. Later nine practically new trailer cars were purchased and are Tn operation Recently Is additional safety cars have been purchased and put in operation. As a result there mas been a constantly increasing inn provement in railway service since the 1are was increased to 6 cents. Our in- Vestigation convinces us that the ex- lsting service is. with one or two ex- captions. of a high standard and that improvement is still in progress
 SMALL EARNINGS
 6. We find that the property as "a whole had during the receivership earned slightly less than it's taxes, bond inter- est and sinking fund obligations. The cash conditions of the receivership es tate has reached an acute stage that demands relief. We recognize. too. that there are unusual burdens resting upon the street railways of the Birmingham district in these particulars: (a) The av- 0ioSe AauiS are loflS, (D) the traffic IS unbalanced oil most of the lines: (c) railroad crossings are numerous; (d) the from jitneys and private au. tomobiles has been excessive.
 The facts stated above are estab- lishedl by, the undisputed evidence in the case. Upon the whole we are convinced that the property has been managed with a high degree of efficiency and economy, and that the railway depart ments have heen furnishing service Le- low the true cost. We know of no pub lie utility, in Alabama or elsewhere. sup plying the several services which this supplies which has met the emergency in the present and recent past by constantly improving it's se-v- ice until high standard was reached at so small an increase in cost to the public.
 We award the relief prayed for, ana make the following order to wit:
 That on the street railway lines of the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company, the Birmingham-Tide- water Railway company, and the Bir- bingham and Edgewood Electric Rail- way company a fare of seven cents per passenger is hereby authorized to be charged Gin lieu of the fare of six cents per passenger) school tickets excepted,