The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-26
ACTION ON RATES DEFERRED UA-
TIL JUNE WHEN REPORT OF
BUSINESS WILL BE MADE
Electric Railroad Chiefs Plead Business
Falling on-Busnsss HsS TO
watch Situation

VICE IblttIts AsdsH diESNI'N
meeting ii r"TrcS. aia;ivc business men
- The. c;ty last evening. and declared
;h";r Respective companies are AZ Ee'
unable to reduce street car fares AZ de-
r!anded by the business men recently.
Last evenings meeting. which was
held In the assembly room OF the
chamber % Commerce. was ADJOURNED
until June 6th. At which time the trac-
ton officials declare they are hopeful
they will DO able 20 show \ more d"hin-
ite report Of their business, with a re-
duction OF fare in sight
Between now AMI the mex; meeting.
however. 4 committee composed % II
= Ogden. J. T Gilmore and Charles
Srnnebovn will coucs- with the traction
officials frequently. so as 10 Keep IN
close touch with the business OF the
c";nranies and make 4 fun report TO
The next meeting.
". IL. Higgins. chairman OF the trot-
&c committee OF the Chamber % Com
merCe. acted rs chairman az last eve
ning's meeting. with L. NJ. Neigh. traffic
commissioner Of the chamber, acting as
secretary.
NJ y Stern. general superintendent
OF the Wheeling Public Service COM
pany. which operates traction lines be-
tween Nest AleSander and this city
and the Ctty railway lines. was the lrst
70 speak Grst night. after Chairman aig-
gins called IN" meeting 10 order.
Mr.. Stern spoke IL the campArS son Of
daily traffic on the cars Of the company
on the ort-thn- pike divisions. and de-
csared there has been general falling
or Of traffic as the result OF the indus
trial depression largely. and not due TO
the increased street car fares. Mr..
Stern declared more automobiles are In
Use now than ever before. which he
said also contributes largely to the de-
crease in the passenger traffic.
Mr.. Stern said that up 70 the first OF
the year. registers had b"en In use On
the cars while now tare-boxes are used.
tie told ot having kept an accurate rec
ord from March II to March IS. in
elusive. using passenger checks and de-
rlarcd the report still showed there Is
q smaller number riding the cars now
than before
Reduced rates" declared Mr. Stern.
will mean Curtaited service. and We
are now giving the best OF service pos
sible under existing conditions" When
asked whether he had 4 comparison Of
the records OF January and December
1921 and 1920. he answered in the neg
pt!ve. but said that thirteen percent OF
the traffic of the year is usually hauled
In December. because Of the holiday
rush.
Suggest shoppers Tickets
NJ. Stern stated about the only sag
gestton NJ could make last evening TO-
ward getting reduced fares would be 70
issue To the merchants OF the city books
Of tickets 10 b. known as shopping
tickets" disable cn.y during hours that
,,S.iallN -IiSh hnlIrS from ahnnk
\. VI. unit! l.. NJ and have the mer-
chants in turn sci, the books to shop
ccrs a: reduced rates This" said Mr..
Stern, would equal!ze traffic 20 great
extent and We find our busiest times
Ere between go and 9 O'Clock 4. NJ.
and 1870 10 5 O'Clock =. NJ
Mr.. Stern said his company - about
$4,000 behind n interest on bonds out
standing. and that with trying 20 rehab-
!.ltatC the road. the company Is meeting
difficulties n remaining In operation.
Il. declared the only way TO solve the
problem OF reducing fares would DC 70
tSSDs. tISsSASksaRd theHScompromise Tho
uuestfbr - TO me Tar" charged 20 tho
citS 1frnftGfat the rS''4-!dee next a-ose-
Mr.. Sterh explained that the = cents
charscd permits one 20 ride 10 ;ne east
limits Of the town of rr!aieiphia.
- Z. Billings. Vice president % the
Wheeling Traction company. talked AZ
quite i 7enEca OK The Haa3r.a! standing
@: he company and he WAS piled VITA
:lagy quESjIuNS.
Billings Is Heard
Mr.. G.I.a=S compared n. traction
""inptLy - 4 CC,a3 merchant. and tAcn
...uncacd ,,,;n a i-HS:hy ;..k On cae n
"r.ases GyanJc'i tho company during the
r.l
n. business a.-a .: the city enioy"d
40 y.trs rc prosperity. brought on by
the war. wh!.v the traction companies
srt.. operated wi;h Il i've cent rare and
;avu an r;rN; cent 'a-s VAS granted
vita tine ve-zOu:ng % many divisions
the company - ;nam.Es mp the losses
Suffered prto. - :he granting OF ihe N
ceased fares by the state pualic service
commissions Of the two states IN which
Z, operates its lines
Mr.. Billings SAID HE las: moath
showed u slight increase n business
With Indications o. mills and factories
cesuminE operations after long lay
ofT which Will mean Increased opera
'.pns for Apr: and -; AIRED Si'nse1l
hopeful thai n" .a":,,,Sc NIL continue
Mr. Billings DECLARED the merchants
should famiigariY" Themselves with the
conditions ri the company. which w"H'd
show the f;,llii.-, OK Of buSiueS ~ H'i
due 20 txc"ssiv" car fares. but !" the
g.uer;,l business depression.
.'t'orCcG reduction got fares Won. 1
mean the hearing by IN" pubic utilities
of the burdens % other lines OF pusi-
cess" declared NJ. billings. AS soon
g th,- cuisines shows We are near break
In. e:en, !t would b. f,:ir I" expect US
To shoulder som" II the burden. but uh-
~ then We cannot assume that rcSpon-
sihility.
"Othsr kinds OF business. during tho
war. could raise IT'S rates 10 enorHous
Profits. in Some instances the increases
being. over 500 per cent. but we had to
90 ,o the public service commissions
;nr increases and fight our way
through"
The question whether reduced sares
wound rot mean more passengers again
.rose and Mr.. Billings answered IN the
negative. declaring the decrease Is due
,o ia. Industrial conditions. The Quc&-
RON o. making minimum charge for
the lines In the Immediate vicinity OF
Wheeling arose and was discussed 1t
NUlne length.
When asked whether an ~ight-cenr
straight fare from Martins Ferry. Bel
,oire Warwood. Benwooh and AcMechen
would not be- satisfactory. Mr.. billings
declared the company would be IN the
hands OF the sheriff wthtn thirty days.
Mr. Billings stated the company has
,hrsa' schemes under consideration TO
i've Wheeling and viclntty reduced
-a.es The n-ss,. he declared. would be
Ia make 4 minimum charge for III" I'm
-, .diate surrounding towns. which
yyni,ld mean an Increase Of ten TO twelve
CENTS for the short rides az we'll as the