Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-26
UTNEY BUSES
HAUL AVERAGE
OF $4,000 DAILY
Figures Presented by Service
Board Checkers at Street
Car Hearing.
YEARLY REVENUE sS2S,SSS

Jftney buses in Indianapolis carry
an average Of 1s,O21 passengers
daily. according to figures submitted
to the public service commission to-
day by inspectors of the commission
in connection with the hearing on
the petition of the Indianapolis
Street Railway Company for further
financial relief.
The investigation was made over
a period from May 20 to "a, inclusive,
during which a total of 626 jitneys
were operated 1t showed that on
eleven streets on which jitneys oper-
ate, 90,106 passengers were carried
during the five days. OF these 47,76S
were carried into the business dis
trict and 42,33S out. The inspectors
estimate that the daily average reve-
nue. from jitney busses is S901.05,
making an annual total of s32S,SS3.25.
The number of jitney busses operating
over each line for the five days is listed
as follows: West Indianapolis, 135;
South Meridian. 152; Lexington avenue
and English avenue. 70; West Washing
ton, 1S7; West Michigan. IS; BrightwoOd,
2; Columbia avenue. 4; College avenue.
2; Northwestern avenue, 16; Indiana ave
nue., II: Indiana avenue to the ball park,
81 Included in the number. the inspec-
tors report, are nine jitneys that did not
display licenses.
The report shows the following total
number of passengers carried over each
line for the five days:
West Indianapolis, 21,096; South Me-
ridisn, 26,14O; Lexington, 5095: English.
1855; West Washington 21.134; West
Michigan. 5351; Brightwood. 5O4; Co
lumbia, 500: Northwestern 1855; Indi-
ana, GA: College, 13.
CAR OFFICIALS SAID
JITNEYS CUT INCOME.
!. The report Of the business done By
rtitney buses was submitted as a result
OF the statement of car company officials
that they are largely responsible for the
falling off Of business on the street cars
which therefore necessitates higher rate
Of fare The company submitted figures
showing the largest decrease in revenues
is on the West Washington street line
where the most jitney buses operate
Taking the Central avenue line, where
no Jitney buses operate, as a basis of
comparison, ii was shown that last year
the West Washington street line carried
half as many passengers as the Central
line, while this year it is carrying only
one-third as many. II was stated thai
the operation OF the Washington street
line costs cents to cents more a car
mile than the Revenues. = ~ = i-s-@s-
Joseph A MCGOWAN, treasurer OF the
street railway company, presented hg-
ures showing a decrease of S51. 100 pas
Eengers during the first month when the
present rate Of fare was IN effect as COM
pared with the corresponding month last
year. This is at the rate of 2S,370 pas
sengers a day OF 1885. coo a year. Esti-
mating that 50 per cent Of the passengers
will pay cash. the company fixed its total
. loss for the year as compared with last
year. despite present high rates. at S548.-
Is. The decrease in transfer passengers
:. las given as 656, 702 under last year. The
Aures also showed that 3O44 per cent
Of the passengers are 'ying cash fare.
FIGURES SHOW DRO1
IN PASSENGERS HAULED.
Detailed figures show tina. 5rring the
first month of operation u1cer present
rates 2.226,TS2 passengers paid "3s e. and
4-946,T1S bought tickets. making a total
Of T.173.5O0. These figures stand against
a total of S,O24.6O9 revenue passengers for
the corresponding days last year. or a
decrease of los per cent. For the month
this year the company carried 1.73O. 900
transfer passengers. the figures show, as
compared with 2.3S76O6 for the cor
responding period last year, a decrease
OF 6567O2, or 27.5S per cent.
Witnesses were introduced at the hear
Ing TO show that business depression is
responsible for a part OF the ling of
IN the number Of passengers. frederick
B. Rakeman. director of the bureau Of
industries of the Indianapolis chamber
OF Commerce, testified that there is a
slump IN most industries, although the
automobile industry has improved. He
said the retail and wholesale business
had also improved during the last two
months.
robert Lieber, part owner Of the Circle
theater and Mr.. Smiths theater, was put
on the stand to show a falling or in the
attendance at the theaters He testified
that a decline IS usual at this time Of
year.