Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-17

the European War. .4.- A s
with arrangements showing q zeal
to learn and to serve" Mr.. Emmons
Eaid, "with officials playing fair and
the public investing it's money in our
property and demanding q square
deal for Its investment. I can fore
see a great advance in the future.
"If the public, including our state
and city officials. will continue to adj
here to the principles set forth by
the Federal Electric Railways Com
mission as zealOusly as the greater
part of the industry Is trying to
carry them out. the electric railway
problem will be solved.
Local transportation has improved
as a rule in proportion to the serious
adoption OF these principles by all
parties to the situation.
Improved public relations and
conditions in general invariably have
followed frank dealings; with the
public and the public officials.
F'rankness has become widespread:
three hundred companies today are
telling their story by advertising
through the newspapers. car signs.
booklets and speakers: whereas,
when the Commission made its re-
port, very few companies were talk
ing the public into their confidence in
this way.
THAT the arrangements themselves
have effected striking operating
economies is shown by the fact that
ir the Commissions report issued in
1920 of a group OF twenty-One city
and interurban companies. the oper-
ating ratlo-that is percentage Of
operating cost to service was 1874
percent. The operating ratio for the
year just closed for similar group
tt,,ev
revenues remaining practically con-
slant was TIA percent
"This reduction in operating ratio
has been brought about almost en-
tirely by reduction which has been
effected in operating expenses
through the following means: Use of
\ the one man car; use of trailer cars
and lighter weight cars; in some in
stances the abandonment of I'M
profitable lines; through improved
routing and rearranging of sched-
ules: through the use Of labor-sav-
ing devices, and through the more
economical use of labor generally.
"Morc new cars and electric loco
motives were purchased in the year
1922 than during any year since 1913,
the total being almost three times
that of the year 1921. 1t is estimated
that more than $2400O0,O00 will be
spent during the current year for
roconstructions and additions 20 the
plant and equipment of electric rail-
ways.
EITHER the street railway service
must be seriously affected" Mr.. En-
mons said. land gradually become
worse and worse to such an extent
that it may have to be abandoned en-
tirely, as has been done in many
places, or the jitneys or buses them
selves will have to be abandond. or
co-ordinated with the existing serv-
ice"
The public he continued, in most
communities is doing its part IN
recognizing that the investor is en-
titled to fair return on his invest
mcnt, and does not object to a rate
of fare which will protect the credit
of the company.
"Seattle's municipal experiment
thus far has been a marked failure,
accompanied by high fares and con-
tinucd accumulated deficits. Mr..
Emmons declared. 1.-THE last avail
liable official statement for the years
1919, 1920 and 1921 shows an &C
cumulated deficit OF sl,526.SG9.
Recently the Seattle City Council,
in an effort to increase the lines
earnings voted to reduce the fare to
five cents with a two-cent cash or
/ cent token charge for transfer.
in the vain hope that many additional
passengers would be attracted. This
was done in the face of report
from George +. Russell. Superin-
ttendent of Public Utilities. that such
4 plan probably would mean net
monthly operating loss of Sl29,22I,
loss of s1550,7O0 per year.
Constant efforts have been made
by persons interested in decreasing
the car fare, to take the deficit out or
the general tax fund of the city. but
this has been successfully resisted
by the taxpayer.
Even under such capable and
practically non political management
as that of Senator Couzens. the De-
troit system has been unable to re-
duce. fares under those charged by
its former private arrangements
and has had to appeal to the people
for s5.0O0.OO0 for which TO make I'M
provements. This was voted down
by a large majority.
notwithstanding the favorable
conditions under which the Detroit
property was purchased and is being
operated the city lines still have the
same rate of fare as chargd by the
former or privately owned company.
"Somo of the factors which ought
10 enable this municipality operated
road to grant n lower fare are as
follows:
Through greatly reduced fixed
charges. because the Company was
forced TO sell its city lines for s22.-
$4,000 which was actually 81
a5o,o0 less than was offered for the
same proncrty in 1919 Capitalized
Ven at five percent which would
show a saving Of S462.5o0 per wear.
Through the possible assistance Of
al city machinery and departments
in the operation of the road.
Through the gradual elimination Of
iitnev competition. which was not
restricted but rather encouraged dur
ing private operation.
Through the extensive use OF the
crc-man cars under city operation
which cars the citv itself did not
permit private management to oper-
ate.
despite the fact that the San
Francisco Municipal Line operates
chiefly on the two principal streets Of
that CITY: carries only the cream of
the traffic. and serves little outlying
territory. the official Municipal re-
port for the year ended June 80. 1922,
showa that when proper allowances
for taxes and other imposts charged