Evening star., 1932-01-09
CAR LINES
HAVE HARD YEAR
Association Head Notes Loss
in Traffic--MoSt Workers
Kept on Pay Rolls.
BY CHARLES GORDON,

Managng Director, American Electric Rail-
way Association.
The local transportation industry In
the United States has felt and is feel
ing the business depression. The net
national loss in riders for 1881 in COM
parsion with 1880 was about s1a per
cent. Compared with losses in other
classes of business and in view Of the
fact that the most transportation riders
are workers or shoppers, whose num-
bers have been decreased by the depres-
sion, that Is remarkable evidence Of the
basic need for public transportation.
At the beginning of 1881 there were
about 250,0o0 persons employed by the
industry. Through the cooperation of
employees, the arrangements of various
companies have been able to provide at
least part-time work for most of their
regular personnel. This record during
an extremely difficult year is gratifying.
1t indicates that, in addition to its i'm
portant position as an employer OF
labor, stability of employment is a
characteristic of the local transporta-
tion business.
National figures do not reflect, how
ever, the situation with respect to in
divtGIal companies The declines in
bt&aness In the small communities and
or. iiterurhan properties have been
murh more serious ttan in the larger
cities.
Trolley Buses Extended.
Despite this condition, electric rail-
ways have adopted and co-ordinated
motor bus service to supplement the
service of rail lines and have during
the past year made considerable prog
ress in perfecting and extending the
use of trolley busses which have proved
very attractive to riders. At the pres
ent time bus operations by electric rail-
ways represent 81 per cant of the total
number of busses operated in common
carrier service in the United States.
The number of passengers carried on
busses operated by electric railways was
10 per cent of the total number OF pas
sengers carried by common carrier
buses in the country.
The process Of co-ordinating rail, bus
and trolley bus services has been ex-
tended on a large scale throughout
most of the leading cities of the coun-
try. This step has largely eliminated
wasteful competition and made posi-
BILE substantial improvement in service.
From an industry supplying 44,0o0
miles Of exclusive rail service in 1920,
local transportation has been extended
ordinated bus and rail lines.
Cars Better Appearing.
During the past year an intensive
effort to improve the appearance, at
tractiveness and economy of street cars
has been carried on comparatively
through the Electric Railway Presi-
dents Conference Committee Over
100000 has been made available for
hi Ntlr tNTyo @f
ating and manufacturing companies.
This project is being directed by Prof.
G. F. Hirshfeld of Detroit in co-opera-
ton with the research departments of
several universities and in a special
field laboratory in Brooklyn. The Cb-
Ject is to produce lighter, quieter and
more comfortable street cars, and it is
expected that the first model car will
be ready for service tests within an
other year.
Electric railways have also under
taken during the past year an ex-
hausttve study of their rates of fare
with a view to developing a more
equitable rate structure. The purpose
Is to devise scheme of rates which,
while being fair to all classes of riders,
VIII at the same time aid in modify
ing the unfavorable load factor from
which transportation companies suffer
because almost half of their total rid
ers are carried during morning and
evening peak hours.
Thus transit leaders are pressing
forward toward improvement of ia
clht1es and service despite the serious
affects of the depression upon their
business.
Huge Investment Involved.
There is invested in this business
approximately $4,000, 100000 upon
which fair return has not been
earned In Is years. As consequence
1t has been unattractive to investors
and electric railways throughout the
country have been handicapped by
lack OF credit needed to make neces-
sary improvements and extensions and
to meet maturing obligations.
The future of the local transporta-
tion industry is dependent upon rec
cgnltlon by the public of the need for
renewing these companies of many
burdens which are not 3 proper part
OF the cost of public transportation
service. These include excessive taxa
tlon, paving requirements and many
o1hers Our cities have been built up
on the assumption that there would be
portatlon available from any section to
another. Business could not carry on
without it.
II, therefore, this necessary service
Is to be maintained in the future, ways
must be found of relieving transporta-
tlon. systems of the extraneous bur-
dens they are required to carry. other
wise transportation service will have
to be restricted to those sections and
routes which offer enough patronage
to pay the costs or some form of pub +
lie subsidy must be provided to make
up the inadequate earnings of city-wide +
systems.
The latter alternative is distasteful
alike to the public and to the trans
portation industry. Arrangements are
doing their utmost to avoid this con-
ttngency. They are convinced that
this industry has real future for con-
structive service and conservative IN
veStment, provided it can enlist the f.
public cooperation needed to permit
it to work out its problems. Local
is definitely a matter OF
public concern e.
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