Evening star., 1932-09-09
City Best Served by One
Big Transit Company
IN the Editor ofrh. a,ar

To the Editor of The Star
Some years ago, in Philadelphia, there
was considerable agitation amongst the
citizens over the terrible condition in
winch the streets were maintained. Au-
tomoble associations, especially, were
active in condemnirg the holes, ruts,
bumps. etc, in the concrete, as not only
source of discomfort, but actually
dangerous hazard for both motorist and
pedestrian. When action was secured
1t was found that the city did not in
clude in its maintenance work streets
on which street cars ran. 1t developed
that one of the clauses in the city per-
nit to the street car lines made 1t COM
pulsory on the street car company to
keep in repair the roadway within the
tracks and to certain distance outside
each track
1t is necessary that I drive about
Washington an average of so miles
daily, and I must say that the streets,
near numberless tracks. are in deplor-
able condition. In many places. such
as Seventh and E streets northwest,
Fourteenth street and New York avenue,
Twelfth and F. streets, Fifteenth and H
streets. etc. it is necessary to slow down
the motor almostSto the stalling point
to save yourself from being bounced
through the ceiling of your car.
All this brings me to the point that
apparently the same street maintenance
conditions are in effect here as in Phil
adelphia. 1t is no secret that the local
street car lines are very much lin the
red" so to speak and 1 presume the
local authorities are bearing down on
them gently. All, of course, to the mis-
fortune of the motoriSt. 1t seems
strange indeed that traction companies
in big metropolitan city are so neg
ligent, or are permitted to be so negli-
gent, or are so unable to expend Suf-
ficient money to keep their part of the
streets in good condition.
If the traction merger will help ale
viate the bad condition in which the
street car companies today find them
selves, and will enable them more eff
ciently and economically to operate, and
to provide cheap transportation for the
people of Washington, then let's hope
that the merger is speedily arra nged.
However it is my personal belief that
the heads of the two traction COM
panies meeting without including also
the heads of several of the biggest taxi
cab companies is foolish. I believe that
all forms Of passenger transportation
companies should be part of any
major meeting on transportation prob
lens in the District of Columbia
Surely no more effective inducement
should be offered in evidence of the
above than the destructive result to the
street car companies Of the 20-cent zone
taxi.
I further believe that it would be
to the advantage of all concerned If
passenger transportation company could
be formed that would include in one
combine the traction, taXic3b and sight
seeing bus companies. Properly regu-
lated, it would eliminate such ruinous
and suicidal competition as now exists.
proper fare could be charged and a
more eff1cient service rendered the rid
ing public, and as a consequence the
carriers should derive a fair profit It
would, of course, be local transporta-
ton monopoly. but properly regulated
by the Government it naturally would
benefit all concerned.
JOHN X. THORNTON.