Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-13
STREET RAILWAYS
REPORT DEFICITS
DESPITE 1OC FARE
Both Companies Find incomes
Below Corresponding Period
Last Year.
LOSS OF REVENUE BLAMED
ON UNREGULATED TAXIS
Use of Tokens, Representing II
Per Cent of Fares, Has Not
Increased.

The increase in car fare added 81 900
a day to the passenger revenue of the
Washington Railway & Electric Co. and
1914 to that of the Capital Traction Co.
in the period from July % to August
IL, but their respective incomes are still
under the receipts for the correspond
ing period of last year, according to
figures compiled today by officials Of
the two companies.
William F. Ham, president of the
Washington Railway & Electric Co.,
said that the revenue of his line, de-
spite the higher fare, is $l48 a day
less than the period between July %
and August II last year, when the fare
was cents cash, or six tokens for 40
cents. The Capital Traction Co. re-
ported an average loss of $500 passen-
gers day under the new fare schedule,
in comparison with the same period Of
1929.
"Unregulated taxicabs," operating O
cheap service, coupled to some extent
with general business depression, were
blamed for much of the loss of the car
companies. The prolonged heat wave
and the vacation period also have been
contributing factors since the higher
fare went into effect July %, and for
this reason, the traction officials point
out, fair comparison of the effect Of
the fare increase cannot be made ct
this time
THE present unregulated taxicab
service was inaugurated March /, $780,"
said Mr.. Ham. From that date to July
%, 1880, inclusive, the old street car
fare of 8 cents cash or six token for 40
cents prevailed. During that period the
Washington Railway g. Electric Co. had
an average daily loss in passenger rev.
enue of S1,157. as compared with the
same period of 1929 This was due
mainly to said unre gulated taxicab serv-
ice and to some extent to the general
business depression.
For the 20-day period from July
% to August IL, the average daily loss
in passenger revenue has been only
$148. as compared with the same period
in 1929. During this 20-day period the
present rate of fare of 10 cents cash
or four tokens for 80 cents has been
in effect, thus showing a saving of
81 600 in the average daily passenger
revenues of the company due to the in
creased rate of fare"
Figures of the Capital Traction Co.
show that the average daily loss in pas
the old rate of fare, was 10,980. For
the first Is days following the increased
fare the average daily loss was 1860,
as compared to last year.
The records of the Capital Traction
Co. also show that the use of tokens
has not increased under the new fare
schedule, as was expected. During the
hearings before the Public Utilities
Commission on the company's applica-
ton for a higher fare, John H Hanna,
president estimated that tokens under
a 10-cent cash fare would represent
about IS per cent of the fares and that
the remaining Is per cent would be In
cash. Under the old fare schedule
tokens represented 671a per cent of the
fares. The company;s latest figures
show that since the fare increase
tokens represent between II and 70 per
cent of the fares.
The low-rate cabs also have made
inroads into the income of the Wash
ington Rapid Transit Co.. and the in
creased fares granted the car COM
panles have apparently failed to help
them any. Figures produced by the bus
concern show successive losses in
revenue in comparison with last year
in every month since the 35-cent cabs
made their debut in Washington. The
bus company's receipts in January were
$29.443 greater than in the same month
in 1929. In February the gain was cut
down to $3,438. Then the losses began.
In March they amounted to S41. 1858, in
April, $81 ,095: in May, $19,283; in June,
$28,703, and in July, $35,590.