The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-16
Company Expects More Patronage Uuder
 Low Fare

(Continueds from Page One)
 ject to inspection by and under the direction of the commission"
 The routes mentioned by the com mission in it's order are:
 ** the city limits being at Sage street on Barnum avenue, at Con necticut avenue on Stratford avenue. at Ash Creek on Fairfield avenue, and at Dewey street on Brooklawn avenue. There shall be established a neutral zone at the center of the city which shall include the territory from said designated center (Main street and Fairfield avenue) notherly on Main street to Congress street, easter1y on Fairfield avenue to Water street, southerly on Main street to Gilbert street and westerly on Fair field avenue to Broad street and on State street to Broad street.
 The petition on which the commiS- sion made it's finding was by the City of Bridgeport, October Il. It rep resented:
 That conditions for the convey ance and transportation of passengers in Bridgeport are such to make the present rate of fare as charged by the Connecticut Company unrea- sonalble and prejudfcial to the public welfare and necessity.
 2-Public necessity and conven- fence require the reduction of the rate of fare charged by the Connecti- cut Company for transportation with in the limits of the City of Bridgeport from ten cents to five cents, to such other rate of fare as shall be reaSo naEole.
 transportation within the city of Brid geport which make it reasonable and proper that hearing upon an aplication to reduce the fares should be held in Bridgeport. The commissions hearing took place on November 10. W. H. Com. ley appeared for the city, and George D. Watrous for the Connecticut Com pany. The city claimed that the present rate of fare was excessive. The resp pondent claimed the present rates of fare~were producing insufn- cient revenue and that reduction revenue.
 The finding in full is as follows: Without analysing the financial operations and returns of the respond ent under the present rates, the City claimed that, independent of the financial returns, the present rate of fare, to wit, ten cents, is excessive and prohibits public patronage, and spondent company the amount of revenue that lower face with largely increased patronage would produce The City presented no facts showing what rate of fare less than ten cents would be the proper economic fare to install, but claimed that a five cent fare on the city lines would be the logical fare to install. and that the establishment of such a fare would result in increased revenue to the com pany and better transportation ser vice for the public.
 The respondent claimed that the present rates of fare in Bridgeport were producing insufficient revenue, and that reduction to five cents would materially lessen the present revenue, even with a most liberal a1- 1owance for increased patronage due to decreased rates.
 In analysing the Bridgeport trans n will not at the present time go into lengthy details, which have been so fully covered by recent reports of special committees and others. Returns Adequate.
 It is conceded that the respondent is not receiving adequate returns un- there is lack of cooperation between the public of the City of Bridgeport | and the respondent; and that the nor | nal riding public is not patronizing principally because of the alleged ex- cessive rate of ten cents.
 During the past several years under | the various rates of fare maintained | from time to time by the company, there has existed the same lack of | cooperation and public patronage. <, The rates of fare at all times main tained in Bridgeport were and are the upon all other sections of the state
 under the heretofore uniform system ! of rates for the respondents entire system, and some of the more profit able and acquiescent sections have had to assist in maintaining street railway service in Bridgeport. This fact pre-
 sents an inequitable condition, requir- ing remote cities and territory, having
 no direct interest in Bridgeport street
 railway transportation to contribute | towards it's maintenance.
 Separate Accounting.
 Large centers of population should
 assist in supporting the tributary lines
 having to do with the social, business r and industrial activities of the com to assist in the maintenance of street
 railway service in remote sections ot
 the State. The respondents system
 should be divided into separate ac-
 counting districts, each district tc
 comprise such territory and munici-
 pa1itieS as are closely connected witt
 their social, business and industria
 activities upon inter-communicatior and transportation.
 Upon the request and advice of the Commission, the respondent company has submitted a tentative plan fol dividing it's system into territories ol accounting districts, which has not yet
 been formally approved by the Com.
 mission.
 Each such district should be self.
 supporting and allow the company z 1, and equipment therein located ant
 used, and any revenue in excess o
 such fair returns should inure to the
 benefit of the public of that distric : in the form of improved service o1
 reduced rates. The rates of fare fo each such district should be so ad justed as to afford such return, ire spective of what the rates of fare ma, be in other districts. An equitable l adjustment of fares for each distric may and undoubtedly would require a higher rate of fare on suburbar t than city lines, and possibly a diff l ferentia1 between daily and casua riders
 It is doubtful under present econo mic conditions if five cent flat far, 7 can be successfully maintained on an, : portion of the company's system, bu we are of opinion that the maximum r ten cent fare for short rides in popu lous centers is not at present tn s economic fare for such daily riders