Evening star., 1922-01-17
v. R. f. TO REQUEST
CONTINUATION Of
PRESENT CAR FARE
Company Seeks Enough In
come in 1922 for Needed
Track Extensions.
HAM ANXIOUS TO EXTEND
eleventh STREET LINE
Capital Traction Undecided on
Rate to Be Asked of Utilities
Board on February l.

When the street car rate case in
taken up by the utilities commission
on February /. the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company will ask
tnat the present rate Of cents cash
or five tokens for 35 cents be con-
tihued. This was made known today
oy william F. Ham. president.
John H. Hanna, vice president and
general manager of the Capital Trac-
tion Company. said that company has
not decided yet what rate it will ask
for
Favors 11th Street Extension.
Mr.. Ham also Announced TODAY that
the company regards a continuation of
It's ilth street line from Monroe street
northwest to Kansas avenue and along
Cpshur street to Georgia avenue as the
most urgent needed tract extension.
ine president OF the Washington Rail-
way and Electric said it is his belief
that II the commission continues the
present rate of fare during 1922 the
company will be able to make its share
OF necessary track extensions.
Mr Ham pointed out that the pro-
posed 1.-the street extension would re-
ileve congestion now existing on 9Th
street and Georgia avenue. He be-
iieves IT would be a better solution of
the 9Th street problem than the plan
OF the commission to open a new
street between 7th and 9Th streets
north of Florida avenue.
Direct Route Downtown.
Eleventh street, said Mir. Ham, is
the most direct north a nd south route
downtown, there being no curves or
switches from Monroe street to the
business section. If these cars were
extended through Kansas avenue and
said, many people living north Of
Cpshur street could be taken or the
congested 9th street line. The 1lth
street cars, he said. could be switched
north into Georgia avenue or could
continue through Upshur street to
the Soldiers Home and issue trans
fers at Georgia avenue.
Discussing the future rate Of fare,
Mr.: Ham said that while the company
had several bad years. last year was
reasonably good year. At the forth
coming hearing, he said. the question
for the people to decide will be whether
they want the rate Of fare kept down
to the minimurh on which the company
can exist or whether they want a rate
of fare that win permit Of extensions
and improvements to service.
Company,s Credit Improved
AT the present time, he said, the COM
pany's credit Is much better than IL
has been for some time. and good credit
must be maintained. he added, to bor-
row the money necessary to make need
ed track extensions.
On Monday morning the company
will go before the commission to ex-
plain its application for crosstown
motor bus line on Park. road from
Mount Pleasant street to Georgia ave-
nue.
Discussing the request for 2-cant
charge for transfers between the
busses and the Mount Pleasant, 11th
street and Georgia avenue car lines,
Mr.. Ham said that if the people feel
that the service to be furnished by
the buses would not be worth an ad-
ditional cents, he hoped they would
express their opinions before the COM
pany goes ahead with the project.
Mr.. Ham said he was opposed TO
granting a 2-cent transfer from the
14th street line of the Capital Trac-
tion Company to the Washington
Railway and Electric busses because
he does not see why>his company should
operate crosstown busses as feeders TO
Capital Traction line.