Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-02
STREET CAR NEEDS
P|CTUREDBY HANNA
Traction Head Urges Public
to Consider Importance
of Transportation.
by EDWARD c. STONE.

srec,al efforts being made by street
railways to fight the private automobne
and win back lost trafflc so sorely needed
to keep lip earnings and dividends, Is
told by John H. Hanna, president OF
the Capital Traction Co, and OF the
American Electric Railway Association,
in The Nations BUSINESS for May. he
says that double-track carhne can
carry more trafflc every hour than three
80-foot roadways, yet some people don
see the value of street car transporta-
tion to business and think the tracks
and cars should be strapped.
scores of street railways have Tor
wears been making every effort 10 meI
charidise transportation, says Mr. hanna.
trying to sell more rides py lntro9u 1;nr
new. cars of lighter and better design
with speedier acceleration and deceler-
alton. with leather seats, better Agntlng
and other attractive features.
some companies are selling tokens
through conductors and motormen ana
other employees in house-to- house can
vases or through agencies in hotels or
stores with special appeals for gifts OF
tickets at Christmas. Others are using
weekly or monthly passes at reduced
rates. They are advertising special
tours: offering special de luxe services,
teaching their trainmen, bus operators
and other workers to be courteous and
neat, combating 'pick-ups" by auto
lists. They have done remarkable ]oo
in cutting expenses without sacrlncng
service.
TrackIess Trolley Tested.
Several cities are trying out trackiess
trolley in suburban territories. Latest
figures show nearly 47,000 one-nan cars
in use by All companies, more than IL
per cent of the estimated total OF $1,000
active surface passenger cars.
Recently there has been some discus
eion Of materially reduced fare rates Tor
short rides. Cleveland has been expert
menttng with such short-haul fare on
part Of Euclid avenue, her principal
street. The rate was first fixed at
cents, but this rate. wnle prooucclnl Is
many more rides than had been sold IN
that territory previously, produced much
less revenue. With city approval 1t was
increased to cents and later to D
cents and the route heightened. 1t may
be that zone fares charging for the dis
lance passenger rides, will help solve
the problem Of some cities. In others,
zone fares will be strongly opposed so
that it is doubtful If they will ever con-
tribute to a general solution.
In most communities today the prime
need Of the street railway Is to have a
public which thoroughly understands
the importance Of public transporta-
tion," Mr.. Hanna concluoes.
Insurance Leader HOnOred.
M. A, Skinner, district manager of
the Equitable Life Insurance Co. OF
washington, is celebrating his 43d an
niverSary in the business today, his as
sociates making 1t q memorable event.
In the head Office at BIG Fourteenth
street northwest. this forenoon, his
friends gathered around him, lauded his
splendid business career and presented
him with a handsome desk set.
On May l., 1888, Mr.. Skinner, In his
very early manhood, became connected
with the Equitable Life Insurance Co.
During the years which have elapsed he
has served continuously in various ca
pacities. as agent assistant manager,
field manager and for the past 10 years
as district manager. ,..t
During his entire connection he has
served in the Washington district,
where he has been able by his upright
living and fair dealing to build for
himself and the institution which he
represents very large and fine cli-
entele.
The entire field force Of his district
do him honor by making the produc-
ton for the week of an outstanding
nature.
Another Forecastlng Book.
William. Dunnigan, Boston fnancier,
has just written a book, Practical
Stock Market Forecasting," printed by
the Financial Publishing Co, in which
the euthor attempts to extend market
knowledge into forecasts of the future.
He has employed eight baronleters.
most Of them developed and watched
by market experts, and fused them into
q composite major trend indicator
He declares that this barometer has
worked with much efficiency for 80
years, although he haStens to say that
the barometer is not infalhble Most
OF the data used is published currently
IN financial papers, SO is available to
any investor who wishes to test the
authors ideas.
Right now expert market followers
disagree as to what the market is likely
to do in the near future. The author
presents q host of charts and other
illustrations TO show what has hap
pened In the past, and his forecasting
ideas are highly interesting. Any writer
VINO can tell what the market is going
70 do next, and when, will get into the
Hall Of Fame.
Two Brokerage Houses Merge.
Announcement is made today that
Wright. Slade d. Co, which has con-
Quoted q broker ONCE in the Mayfiower
Co, which has branch Offices in Chi
cago and several other cities, have
arnalgamated Both firms have been in
existence since 1904 and are we'll known
on the New York Stock Exchange
Dr.. H. Parker Willis, one Of the
trainers Of the Federal Reserve act and
q widely known economist, is chairman
OF the investment advisory board OF
Shields g. Co., which maintains an i'm
pcTtant statistical organization.
The Washington ONCE of Wright
E,2de q Co. will continue as branch
o. Shields & Co., under the local man
agement Of Harry M. Fridley.
Financial District Comment.
Local bank clearings In April amount
ing to S113.382, 805.88, compared with
Sll5,n36, 652.98. are considered highly
gratifying. The falling of was not
Learly as severe as during the CORE
spending month a year ago, as COM
pared with April. 1929.
The f1rst call" for the thirteentb
annual convention Of the District
Bankers Association. TO be held at Hot
Springs. Va. June 1921, has been re-
Ceived by members of the association
An effort Will be made TO surpass las,
Sear's attendance record of about $50
Controller Pole was forced to mis-;
the bankers Spring dinner at the Co
1umbia Country Club because of HI,
address at Atlantic City before the
Chamber of Commerce convention. Il
was the first one he has missed ir
years. .
Barnum L. Cotton and Norman z
Towson, local bankers, have returned
from attending the United State;
Chamber Of Commerce convention al