The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-03-31
ELECTRIC RAILWAY OFFICIALS
PROMISE TO NOTIFY COMMIT
, TEE IF POSSIBLE TO
REDUCE RATES.
EXPRESS BELIEF SUCH A STEP
CANNOT BE TAKEN WITHIN
THE COMING NINETY
DAYS AT LEAST.
BUSINESS MEN POINT OUT GOOD
REASONS WHY LOWER CAR
! FARES ESSENTIAL TO
ClTY'S INTERESTS.


stand last evening by committee
Irepresenting the business interests OF
Wheeling. a COnIcrenc" with the
tract on officials in the assembly
room OF the Chamber Of Com meTce.
THAT the pablo service commissions
would be appealed 10 in an effort 10
compel a revision n fare rates down
ward Il the traction companies them
selves fail 10 lower the fares.
) The committee meeting last night
with ". L Wills. general manager Of
hhe Wheeling Traction company. anu
lar. r. SternS. general manager OF the
iWheelu@ Public Service company.
Twas composed q w. H. Higgins,
chairman: p. NJ. Neigh. secretary: J.
IT. Gilmore. Charles Sonneborn. II. G.,
Ogden. William Maser, W. W. Larktn
and George ". KOonce.
The following is the proposal with
lre.pect 20 tho adjustment Of the fares
land charges asked for by the bust.
mess men:
THAT Il straight cisht.cent fare be
Established 70 cover all points within
the city limits OF Wheeling. Martins
Ferry. Bridgeport Bellaire. Benwood
Rnd McMechen.
ITO ALI other points reached by the
Wheeling Traction company and the
lNhce!ins Public Service company. TO
establish fares not 10 exceed l6O per
Icept OF The fares in effect in 1914.
with no change in the cash fare or
ticket system"
Strong Presentation.
| rOpptlnC 70
Io-Jer. and IN very strong manner
presented the arguments for re-
lduction in fares. lie told how CON
Igostion vas caused IN the suburbs
jclose TO Wheeling. owin@ 10 the high
flares charged TO points further away
bind bow business is k"o' away FROM
VhcetinS owing TO excessive fares.
MIR. Higgins pointed OUT that n his
,op.nicn the traction companies world
bette themselves by reducing ~"
fare. and by so DANG increase IN"
ru'.'me o. business, tie said tha' no
believed the travel would increaS" :"
per cent b. reduction IN rates. anu
IN The end the traction companies
wcald not lose cent.
Keep Business Away.
; Mr.. Gilmore stated that i was III"
ouin;op OF the Wheeling Retail A>So-
cistion members that the excessive
rates CHARGED is keepins considerable
business away from Wheeling. its
said there was proposed q campaign
10 bring all business possible 70 This
city. but this could hardly DO lone
under tho prevailing rates OF tho
traction companies. l.e pointed o"
tha, many people are buying in the
small stores in the suburban Commu'
mites in which they reside instead
OF coming to the city. all due TO ne
car fare rates.
H.. OGDEN reviewed conditions as
TO TIC franchises OF the traction com
PRIMES. which specified a tive.cen'
rae. including transfers. he said
these franchises still co7stitut" 4
ccntYact. although j. is aSreed b" ak
thai under war conditions higher
fare was needed. but that three wears
after tho va. with me read!uS mem
O. al other industries. 10 fe'E tia
the traction companies should come
in COR their share. Mr.. Ogden went
tr,o detail concerning the operation
Of the traction companies in NEcp!-
Ing from the starting Of the first car.
and followed up the growth Of III"
railways as TO fares and franchises.
Plead Car Lines Broke.
Mr. Wills told OF the condition OF
the Wheeling Traction company. saE-
ing it Is operating at loss. as wei!
as did Mr. Stems on behalf OF the
Wheeling Public Service COMPANY.
Mr.. wills said that 40 cents out OF
every dollar earned BY the company
last year went for wages; that Il
cents Of every earned dollar went for
power. and 10 cents OF every dollar
went for material He was then told
By Mr.. Higgins that the committee
did not doubt the figures were true,
but that the main point was 10 lower
the rates, and that he believed that
bv doing so the business would in
crease enough TO better the revenue
OF the traction companies. Mr.. Wills
said wages had increased l0i per cent
since 1914.
Promised Reduction.
Mr. Gilmore asked Mr.. Wills X he
did not suggest 20 the former gen
eral manager OF the Wheeling Trac'
ton company. {. +. Billings. that X
the buses were put out OF operation
that the fares could b. reduced. and
suggested that n" fares be revised
MIR Wills replied iha' lie had, but
stated that conditions changed He
said the buses are still operating.
The average seating capacity OF a
car is 81 and tho average load daily IS
% passengers" said Mr. Wills.
Considerable discussion took place
a. 10 how jhe traction company fig
ured a cents on every earned dollar
going for power and y cents % every
earned dollar go;nS to material Mr..
Wills explained that a considerable
amount OF material is bought one year
and not used until the next year. and
that IN some cases Ties that were al
WAYS bought Al ca cents were only re
Gently bought for Sl@3.
Mr., Wills said mat the rate IN
Wheeling is only two and onr.hali
cents q nllc average. against three
cents n mile in most every other CITY
Mr.. Stern. general manager OF the
Wheeling Public Service company
stated that for the year ending Deem
Der 81. 1921. the company paid on, for
wages for employees 50 per cent o!
the revenue: oil per cent for coal. ma
terial. etc: 10 per cent for taxes. and
Al h,Iaoca ~ ~ nor cent for fYoC