The Washington times., 1925-06-10
Capital Traction Valuation
and Higher Car Fares
By RILL PRICE.

The Public Utilities Commission Is expected to appeal
the decision of District Supreme Court which adds more
than to valuation Of the properties Of the CAPT
tai Traction Company there being item OF $0OOOO
heretofore adiudged by the p o. O. to be virtually hot air.
upon which the car riders OF the U@t nave no business 70
pay returns
the Public Utilities Commission is about SIT It had
been expected that the courts line with other decisions
touching District utilities would direct increase In val
s Of S'I .S. for $1,000 REPRESENTING alleged
values involved IN the purchase of old street railway proper
the Public Utilities Commission from 1914 to 1917 and the
Commission found the company had no right to dollar Of the
has allowed the claim the COmision should by all means ask
the higher courts to pass upon the matter.
Company until the last few earning at times higher
than per The wndGng of passengers due to
automobile ownership and bus hns competition reduced the
gross earnings extent that the return that valuation
Is something above per cent
the Capital Traction Company should finally get by
order increases in valuation that would carry its total
TO $4,000 600 viii then be In position it desires
demand higher fares IN order that may have
able returns that valuation On $2sOO0OOO valuation
it viii not above per cent
foreshadowed however, that this prosperous and swe
managed railway company WIN be content to let street railway
to enable it to meet all bond obligations and pay high
rate Of interest on stocks at the same time accumuatng
fine surplus It is not suffering financially.
Any attempt fares In the District above the
St cash s rate . going to ,v the Tswg
in many American cities and good average Of those paid
throughout the country It represents rise from cents
compared with six fares for 20 cents
Congress would almost surely rebel against any increase
In fares here and might take drastic action such municipal
Ownershp municipal supervision under guarantee plan
Of return like that which has operated successfully in
Cleveland, Ohio, for years.
There continually hanging the street railways of
Washington and elsewhere the threat Of bus compe
on street fares here should be increased the Public
Utilities Commission would be compelled by public sentiment
and the probable demands Of Congress open up
Of transportation to bus The public apparently
inclined to patrone bus lines where the fares about
same as on street railways 80 long as street railway fares
kept below bus fares the railway companies have chance
to build their patronage and to hold their passengers
the fares 60 up and it win be different thing.
The territory Of the Capital Traction Company in the Dis
t is the cream Of short hauls the most profitable Of all street
railway business This territory would be ideal line
operation It wouldn't be good policy for this company to
pursue that would force the Public Utilities Commits
sion to authorize bus line competition The Commission will
be compelled to take cogance Of the interests rights of
the carridng public there Is such for higher
fares.
So long the street railway companies Of Washington
getting along nicely they had better let well enough alone and
be content to await Developments Car fares District
are high enough and won't be healthy business try to
have them increased