Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-14
HANNA DEFENDS
COMPAN COSTS
Traction Official Says Record
for Economical Operation
Is Enviable.
Continued From First Page.)

said Mr.. Hanna, because IL has been
said that our power charge Is larger
than 1t should be. because we make our
own power. Most of the other COM
,panies purchase power under contract"
Cites Use Of One-Man Cars.
Mr.. Hanna said the only cities which
showed more economical operation Of
street car companies than the Capital
Traction Co. were indianapolis, which
uses mostly one-man cars: Kansas
City. where one-man cars are largely
used; Milwaukee. where one-third Of
the cars are of the one-man type, Los
Angeles and Cincinnati.
He said All of these lines. except that
in Indianapolis, are considerably larger
than the Capital Traction Co.'S system.
and consequently have less overhead
expense per car mile.
Mr. Hanna then entered into de-
tailed explanation OF the CONDUIT, or
underground electric railway, system,
as compared with the overhead trolley
system which Is In operation largely in
other cities, calling attention to the
fact that the Capital Traction Co. is all
most exclusively an Underground, or
conduit, system.
The conduit system costs three times
as much as the trolley system" declared
Mr.. Hanna. and the depreciation Is
much greater"
Conduit System Expensive.
In operating expenses. Mr. Hanna
said, there are many elements In the
underground system that are not found
in the overhead trolley systems. He
said the maintenance OF the steel bars
underground, which take the place of
trolley wires, is much higher. He called
attention to the necessity of cleaning
the conduits at least once a year and
of the additional delays caused by the
difficulties in operating under the con-
duit system.
II estimate that so per cent or rs
per cent of the delays in street car
operation in Washington. outside of
traffic delays. are due to trouble with
the ploWs on the cars. which are q nee
essary part of the conduit system" said
Mr.. Hanna.
The pillow is subject TO many differ
ent troubles. Then we have to contend
in the Winter months with the tendency
Of the slots to close and with the snow
and ice which get into the conduit.
All of these things should be consid-
cred In comparing our rate Of fare with
that in other cities which have the
overhead trolley system"
Mr.. Hanna said that peak hour" con-
ditions here are much worse than in
most cities, because Washington has not
q diverse population. He said that in
industrial cities there are various GEN.
tiers and congestion can be largely
avoided by the routing of cars. In
Washington. he pointed out, there is
only one important downtown center. of
which the Government offices consti-
tute very large part. Most OF these
Offices open and close at approximately
the same time. he said, and the hours or
, the stores are about the same.
All these things make the arrange
ment of our schedules dif1cult as COM
pared to those in other cities and add
to our expense" he said.
Automatic Switch Expensive.
One Of the most expensive features
OF the local conduit system. Mr.. Hanna
told the commission, Is the automatic
switch which is In use all over the city.
He said these switches are continually
getting stopped up with dirt and in the
Winter with ice and snow. He referred
to the fact that in crossing these
switches motormen have to cut on the
current and coast in order to avoid
short circuits.
This is another cause of delay and
adds to the expense OF operation in
Washington" continued Mr.. Hanna.
On the whole, the difficulty OF operat-
ing the conduit system is probably 10
times greater than operating the trolley
system
Commissioner Hartman referred to
the cost of street car operation In Mill
waukee.
Il think since the Milwaukee COM
pany has shown such a good record Tor
economical operation" said Mr.. Hanna,
1T might be interesting to call atten-
ton to the fact that the milwaukee
company is operated by the North
America Co."
FIeharty Reserves Questions.
Peoples Counsel Ralph b. Fleharty
reserved his cross-examination until
Mr.. Young had completed. He SAID
that his cross-examination would be
very brief.
Mr.. Young then asked II Mr.. Hanna
would issue free inter-company trans
fers or change any Of the rates
charged by his company unless ordered
by the commission. Mr.. Hanna replied
that he would not.
Mr., Young then read long extracts
from various laws affecting the COM
panies passed before the creation OF
the Public Utilities Commission. and
asked Mr.. Hanna as to each whether
he considered that the public utilities
law superseded them. These questions
were overruled by the commission.
william NICK. Clayon, counsel for the
Federation Of Citizens Associations.
asked II the commission was not called
upon to enforce all provisions OF the
company's charters not superseded by
the public utilities law. This question
likewise was overruled.
z. C. Riegel, representing the Wash
inston Consumers Guild, then asked II
the commission itself would not answer
the question. Mr.. Hartman replied that
IL was improper to inject into the hear
Ing any request for q pre-determination
Of the case, and stated that he wished
to assure all parties that the commits
sion will not pre-judge any feature OF
the case.
Merger Move IL Sudden.
The injection of merger discussion
into the car fare case came with ORA
matte audiences at the end OF the
public hearings Yesterday. and took All
present by surprise. No previous inti-
nation had leaked out that the COM
mission was prepared to do anything
of the sort. The matter was directly
launched by Engineer Commissioners
william b. Liadue, who heretofore has
sat silent but watchful.
MIR. Hanna, in answer to questions by
Chairman Mason M. Patrick, had stated
his Willingness to discuss certain fea-
lures of economy possible through
Joint operation Of the two companies.
The proceedings then were halted while
Commissioner Hartman introduced SIS
large blue printed maps prepared un-
der his personal supervision. showing
rerouting schemes previously submit
ted by various engineers, modified by
him so as to avoid the necessity OF
new track construction as far as pos
sjble. Besides the plans, the maps
showed traf1ic and residence densities,
location of car barns and shops, trans
fer points. inter and intracompany,
go q n,nnhar of other details The