Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-04
HIGHER FARE ASKED.
ON BURLE|TH LINE
Ham Declares Route Has
Been at Loss Ever Since
1t Was Started.

Claiming that the Burleith bus line
was operated from it's establishment
last March to December 81 at a deficit
of S7.166.S6, William +. Ham. presi-
dent of the Washington Railway and
Electric Co, appealed to the Public
Utilities Commission today to approve
the companys application for an In
creased fare to 10, cents cash or six
tokens for so cents.
The transfer arrangements request
ed In the petition would provide a free
transfer good on any interSecting car
or bus line of the company, to be is
sued on payment of a token and 2
cents.
Transfers to the Burkeith line would
be issued by connecting car and bus
lines for cents only on payment of
one token fare and cents except that
free transfers would be issued to the
Burleith line by the Massachusetts
avenue and Rhode Island avenue bus
lines in accordance with existing rules
Mr.. Ham also supported the COM
pany'S petition for permission to estab-
Fish shuttle bus service to operate
from Thirty-ffth and Reservoir streets
to the junction Of Reservoir street and
FoXall road, connecting with the Bur
leith line. The fare proposed is 10
cents cash. with free transfers to the
Burleith line.
Transfers from the Burleigh line to
the new line would be issued for .
cents only on payment of a cash
fare. provided. however, that If the
fare on the Burleith line is increased
to 10 cents. transfers from that line
TO the Foxhall Village line would be
issued free.
Explains Deficit.
Mr.. Ham pointed out that 5.2,3 32
passengers were carried from March
to December 81, giving the company
return Of $38,71S.45, but the operating
expenses and taxes over this period
amounted to s45. 1851. The proposed
new rates would give the company
over a 10.month period, providing
there is no change in the present vol
ume of traffic. he said, a revenue of
S4Z,83590
Mr. Ham cited figures showing that
during every month of the lines oper-
alton last year, with the execution of
April and May, there was ii deficit in
operating expenses and that the vol
ume OF traffic had not expanded. The
increase requested. he explained,
would make the Burleith bus fare the
same as that charged on the lines of
the Washington Rapid Transit Co.
Based on the commissions valua-
lloH VI us property, INeu dl SlSi4fb,-
337, Mr.. Ham declared. the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Co. earned
return of 3.8S per cent in 1925. He
said he believed that street car fares
should be raised to give the company
a fair return, but that the company
had no intention of applying for an
increase.
Maj. w. E. r. Covell. Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner. assigned TO
why the operating expenses of the
Burleith line per mile exceeded those
of the Washington Rapid Transit Co.
Mr.. Ham said that he believed the
operation of a bus over a route sim
liar to that Of the Burleith line was
more expensive than on Sixteenth
street. due to it's nature and the bad
condition Of some of the streets. The
type of busses used also is a factor in
the operating cost, he added.
"SeIective Route"
Mr.. Ham argued that the Burleith
line is a ''SelectiVe route. comparable to
the de luxe bus service of the Capital
Traction Co. and William Nick. Clay
ton. chairman Of the utilities commit
tee of the Federation Of Citizens Asso-
Citations, challenged him to ask the
commission for a fare approximating
that charged on the ''parlor car"
coaches. Il don't think that is prac-
ticable now he replied.
Mr.. Clayton reminded Mr.. Ham
that the Washington Rapid Transit
Co. is operating on a tentative fare
of 10 cents cash or six tokens for 80
cents for a three-month period, and
asked him whether his company
would agree to a lower fare on the
Burleith line If the fare should be
reduced on the transit companys
lines Mr. Ham nodded in the affirm
ative.
Residents of Burleith, the commits
sion was told by r. N. Heath, presi-
dent Of the Burleith Citizens Associa-
ion, feel that If the commission ap-
roves the proposed increase, the
Company should provide better service