Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-12
WASH VA. RAILWAY
OPERATION DESIRED
Citizens Committee Sees
PIanto Scrap It as Blow
to Community.

Abandonment Of the washingtCn-
Virginia Railway system, admittedly
q possibility under plans OF the re-
ceivers to terminate shortly their
supervision OF the road, would throw
out Of work 245 employees, receiving
aggregate wages Of $1,000 q day.
Besides the loss to the community
Of this pay roll there would result, In
addition, q loss to local business In
terests Of approximately $500 q day
expended for railroad equipment and
to out.of-town firms q reduction In
business Of comparable proportions.
These data were obtained today
from Harrison Emhardt, treasurer to
the receivership for the financially
involved company.
Decision Of the receivers to dispose
of the system at the earliest oppor-
tunity. even though It might be nee.
osaary 10 sell the holdings OF the road
FOR the estinated scrap valuation"
of $3.50, 900, was announced In yes
terday's Star In connection with q
report on the formation OF q catt-
zens' committee to save the road
from being "junked"
Buyer Is Sought.
This committee, headed by M. E.
Church Of Falls Church, Va, heavy
stakeholder In the company, will seek
to find q buyer for the system who
win agree to continue the road in
operation, IL only on q curtailed
basis Of service.
The committee, Mr.. Church said,
may favor adjustment Of the rail
ways operation between Falls
Church or Vienna and Fairfax Court
House, and between Alexandria and
Mount Vernon.
Il would be calamity" the COM
mittee feels, Tor service to be discon-
tinued altogether. as many communi-
ties now depending on the road for
transportation to and from Washing
ton would virtually be isolated, or
forced to 90 long distances for bus
connections.
The transfer Of q large additional
number Of commuters from railway
to bus transportation, furthermore.
would require increased bus factli-
ties and lead to dangerous crowding
OF already congested highways. the
committee points out.
The company, besides paying out
an average of $500 a day In wages
and for materials, uses as much as
S325 worth Of electric power daily.
This power is purchased from the
washington Railway & Electric Co,
Il Is stated. The power bill for May
was $1,000, Mr.. Emhardt pointed out.
5000 Profit in May.
If the prosperity OF the company
were to be judged by its profits in
May, the system could be said to be
on q perfectly sound operating basis.
The figures for that month showed a
clear profit Of 5000 above operating
costs, Mr.. Emhardt said. This large
increase in business was due solely to
the influx Of sightseers and their de-
sire to visit Mount Vernon. he ex-
planned.
The profits Of the system for the
four-month period prior to May had
totaled only $500. however. There
were substantial losses in January,
February and March. which gravely
Offset the profits. MADE during April
and May, the treasurer said.
The railway barely weathered the
financial storm that beset It during
the past Winter, II was asserted, and
the outlook for another such Winter
Is 90 discouraging that the receivers
have decided to end their sponsor
ship as soon as possible.
New Capital Needed.
Mr.. Emhardt expressed the opinion,
however, that the road can be op-
Grated on q paying basis with new
capital available. This new capital
"a not obtainable under the present
state OF affairs, but should be obtain.
able II the road begins operation
anew. freed of its existing bonded In
debtedness and burdened only by a
capital outlay Of comparatively small
import, such as would be involved In
its purchase on the basis Of scrap
value"
Substitution Of modern lightweight
cars for the heavy coaches now IN
use would effect q saving In operating
costs OF nearly 80 per cent, 1t was
learned. The present cumbersome
cars OF the line were purchased be-
fore the lightweight type had become
popular. The lightweight cars are
easier on the roadbed and trackags
and require less power to operate
them.
EaFss