Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-02
Peoples Counsel Keech Re-
ports to Utilities on Study
of Situation.
CAPITAL TRACTION RIDERS
DROP OFF 3,52O,443
w. r. G E., With More Trackage,
Is 3,006, 0s2 Behind-Taxi War
Effect Not Shown.
Washington's two street railway COM

Washington's two street railway COM
panies, the Capital Traction and WASH
ington Railway g. Electric, lost $685.
652 revenue passengers in the first six
months of this year in comparison with
the total number carried in the CORE
spending period of 1890.
This was disclosed in a statistical
report prepared yesterday by Richmond
B. Keech, peoples counsel, before the
Public Utilities Commission In connec-
ton with his study of the street car
situation.
The report showed that the Capital
Traction was the greater loser, though
it has less trackage than the Wash
ington Railway & Electric. In the first
six months Of 1891 the Capital Trac-
ton carried 24,267,432 revenue pas
sengers, or 3,520,443 less than in the
same period of last year. The Wash
ington Railway g. Electric showed a
loss OF 3,006,082 for the six months,
carrying 3l,120.706 passengers in the
first six months Of 1880 and 8,l46, 624
in the same period Of this year.
Taxi-Rate War Effect.
The decline, in the case Of both
companies. dwindled in each succeed
ing month from February to June.
The recent taxicab rate war had a
serious effect on the companies in
July, but the actual loss in revenue
passengers will not be known before
August 20, when the July reports are
filed with the Utilities Commission.
The companies, however, estimated
their loss in revenue during the rate
war at about 81 900 a day each.
On a percentage basis, the Capital
fractions decrease in passengers in
the first six months of this year in
comparison with the same period last
year was shown in Keech's report to
be as follows: January, 14.2 per cent;
February, ISL per cent; March, 1874
per cent; April. l2.5 per cent; May.
1913 per cent, and June. 1912 per cent.
For the Washington Railway g. Elec-
trio Co.. the decline in these months
was shown to be as follows: January.
March, 10 per cent: April. 8.3 per
cent; May, 81 per cent, and June So
per cent
Parking Ban Effect.
The prohibition against parking in
the downtown congested zone in the
morning rush hour, which went into
effect in May, Is believed to have been
responsible for the low June percentage
loss. The car companies, however,
contend that the full effect Of the
parking ban on their business will not
be shown until the August report is
prepared. The July report, it was
pointed out, would have been a good
gauge had there been no taxi war to
upset the transportation systems.
Despite the continued loss in paSsen-
gers. the financial condition of the
companies has been improving. due to
the higher rate of fare which went
into effect last July. In fact. the Wash
ington Railway &, Electric showed an
increase in revenue in April. May and
June in comparison with lest year. and
the Capital Traction reported an in
crease in June.
From January to May, inclusive, the
Capital Traction showed a loss in net
operating revenue as follows: January,
81 per cent; February, 46 per cent:
March, 81 per cent; April, "a per cent,
and May, Ia per cent. In June the
company showed a gain CT 81 per cent.
The Washington Railway &c Electric
showed losses from January to March,
inclusive, as follows: January, 18 per
cent; February, 2.8 per cent, and
March, is per cent. In April there
was an increase of OIL per cent, which
Jumped to 04 per cent in May and to
OF per cent in June.