Evening star., 1921-03-01
v. AND VA. TARIFFS
| UP AT ALEXANDRIA
Business Interests Will Be
Damaged by Added Fare
Rates, Says Capt. Evans.

RDsiness and real estate interests
OF Alexandria. Va, will be seriously
Snrnaged IL new tariffs providing IN
creased fares for the Washington
Virginia railway become effective
Capt. George II. Evans, business man
aeer of the Alexandria Chamber OF
Commerce, told Examiner Mackiey OIL
the Interstate Commerce Commission
today in reopening the hearing on the
tariffs now before the commission
Capt Evans, who has been actively
associated with business interests IN
alexandria for many years. Sald tneie
is now pending a real estate deal IN
Alexandria involving forty-five lots
and several thousands of dollars
which is being held up pending de-
cision of the Interstate Commerce
Commission on the new tariffs
He said the effect of the proposed
Increased rates would be to lessen
travel and would probably result in
many persons now living in Alexan-
dria, who work in Washington. moV-
ing from the Virginia city to place
nearer their business. He cited the
case of the Navy torpedo plant en-
ployes, at least half of whom, he
said. live in Washington and work in
Alexandria. Probably part of these
employees, Capt. Evans said. would
seek transfer to place of work near
ef their homes if the rail rates We're
Increased.
Commuters Heard Today.
Commuters on the Washington-Nir-
ginia railway We're heard today by the
commission. the road having closed its
Testimony with presentation OF the
case for the road Saturday by john E.
Zimmerman of the firm of Day &
Zimmerman. present operators of she
road. Day & Zimmerman took over
the road after the former manage
ment had practically acknowledged
its insolvency. it was testified.
Daniel r. Stansbury. president OF
the Alexandria Commuters ASsoeia-
tion. told Examiner Mackley that the
present management cannot be wholly
blamed for the present condition OF
the road. He said. however. that the
present policy appears to be to get
along with half the number of cars in
service that were on the road several
years ago. Mr.. Stansbury said car
left Alexandria for Washington this
morning with 107 passengers on
board-far too many for one car to
carry.
would bring in more revenue to the
road" Mr. Stansbury said. Il do not
believe an increase in the present rate
Of fare would bring increased rev.
enue. but would nave tne erect Oh
decreasing the number of passengers
to such an extent that increased rates
would not be reflected in increased
revenue"
MY opinion" Mr.. Stansbury said.
.is that the projected new automobile
bus line between Washington and
Alexandria will materially reduce the
revenues of the road"
: Frederick E. Ballard, an attorney
for the road. in cross-examination of
Mr.. Stansbury. brought out the point
that the present fifty-two-trip book
between Alexandria and Washington
costs $4.46. This is at the rate of SO
cents a trip for a distance of about
eight miles, he said, or only little
more than a cent a mile. The new
tariff increases the cost of the fifty
tEo-trip book to S5.5S. If the fifty
twoItrip book were charged for on
basis of " cents a mile 1T would cost
IN the neighborhood Of 50.
Against this point Mr.. Stansbury
pointed out that frequently the whole
OF the fifty-two rides are sometimes
not used and that satisfaction has not
been obtained in requesting repara-
ton from the road fof such rides. Mr..
Ballard then read into the record the
provisions in the. company's tariffs
covering the point OF reparation ;Or
tickets not used out Of Communication
books.