Evening star., 1928-03-09
SUBWAY PROPOSAL
HELD IMPRACTICAL
IN MERGER HEARING
Expert Says Plan Would Not
Bring Lower Traffic
Costs.
COMMISSION OPPOSES
0NE.MAN STREET CARS
Bibbins Quizzed on Economics Pre-.
dicted in Operation of Uni
fed Lines.

Operation OF a downtown subway and
substitution of one man street cars on
the traction lines Of Washington, as
economic measures to prevent an in
crease in fares, were ideas injected into
the merger hearings today that brought
about a lively skirmish.
The Public Utilities Commission prac-
tically turned thumbs down on the one
man car proposition. after William Nc
<. Clayton OF the Federation of Citizens
Associations had interrupted the pro-
ceedings to- warn that the public here
was so unanimously opposed to 1t that
it preferred higher fare rate.
Opinion was expressed by J. Rowland
BibbinS, transportation expert, that the
subway would hardly cut any figure IN
lowered operation costs. With that ul-
timatum, the question died down as
quickly as 1t had been raised by Col
Harrison Brand. vice chairman OF the
commission.
Proposal Is Surprise.
Injection OF the subway proposition
came generally as surprise, for 1t was
the first time during the extended hear
ings that any serious consideration mas
been given TO such proposal. II
came about during an analysis OF the
peak load traffic on the Fourteenth
street line OF the Capital Traction Co,
which traverscS many important tramc
lanes between Pennsylvania avenue ano
Thomas Circle.
Col. Brand asked II subway con-
structed from a point north OF Thomas
Circle TO Pennsylvania avenue would
provide a sufficient saving In time TO
defray carrying charges.
Considering the question carefully,
Mr. Bibbins expressed the opinion that
1t would not defray more than trac-
ton of the carrying charges" and would
impose very large charge on the pub
lie in some form OF subsidy. which
would hardly be worth the cost 20 tar
as reducing general trafiic cost
MFR. Bibbins. who has made a six
month study Of the transportation Sit
uation here at the request Of Harley p.
Wilson. majority stockholder In the
Washington Rapid Transit Co. and q
director in the North American Co.,
which owns approximately IL per cent
OF the stock OF the Washington Rail-
way 81 Electric Co. was the witness
today. He was cross-examined on his
testimony relative TO the S84i 900 in
economies which he predicted would
result through operation under the uni
fcation plan.
Emig Plan Protested.
Nal Clayton e. Emig OF the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations. unex-
pectedly brought up the question OF
one man street cars. After a number
of preliminary questions. he told Bib
bins that he wanted to know II the
one -man cars could be used here 10
avoid an increase In fares. It was at
this point that Clayton Jumped To his
feet and interrupted the proceedings
with a sharp protest.
The hot dispute that was about TO
cnsue was cut short by Chairman Chill
dress. who warned. Gentlemen. l think
Il Is unnecessary TO go into the ques-
ton OF one man cars"
Maj. Emig had propounded numerous
questions 10 Bibbins relative TO the
economic operation Of one-man street
cars OF the modern type In Phil
adelphia. Newark. N. j., and elsewhere
Bibbins said II was obvious that there
was some economy In the operation Of
one-man cars over two-man cars. as ex-
perienccd In Philadelphia. but claimed
that there was no way OF fixing def
mite saving until all conditions OF traf-
flc are known
DO you consider II necessary TO
merge all the bus and coach services
with the street railway system?" asked
Mr. McAdoo OF Mr.. Bibbins.
Extensions Hit.
Explaining that the underground slot
system here costs $3.50. 900 per mile. Mr.
Bibbins said II would not be feasible 70
extend the. rail lines 10 districts which
the busses could serve more cheaply
lie declared supplemental bus service
was essential TO the transportation
scheme
AS examples OF how bus services are
being extended throughout the country.
he said that 35l cities had bus services
at the end OF 1927. compared with 1873
at the beginning OF the year. and that
the number Of busses had increased
approximately 20 per cent In these
cities, In the largest cities. he declared.
street cars were unequaled In handling
peak loads.
The best policy for the District OF
Columbia TO pursue" he said. would
be TO create the best possible condition
for rail transportation, supplemented by
bus service"