Evening star., 1938-07-24
RAIL FARE HIKE
STARTS TONIGHT
Passengers Will Have to Pay
rs Per Cent Increase
After Midnight.
ns the Associated Press.

Eastern passenger coach fares will
90 up rs per cent at midnight tonight.
The carriers have estimated that
the half-cent-a-m mile increase - max
Ing the new rate as cents q mile
VIII bring them approximately $45,-
900 900 more revenue during an 1s-
month trial period.
In authorizing the increase, the
Interstate Commerce Commission re-
marked that there can be no doubt
that the applicants are In serious need
OF additional revenue"
Under the new schedule. the rail-
roads will lose the privilege OF COL
iectnp full nickel in instances
where the fare figures into odd cents.
After Sunday they must make their
rates to the penny.
Examples Of Increases.
Here are some examples OF the
increased fares:
From Washington to Cincinnati, an
increase from $l1.20 to sl39s; Wash
ington to Chicago sl5.45 to 1927;
Washington to st. Louis, $18.l0 to
$226l, Washington to New York,
$3.50 to S527; Washington to Pitts
burg. S6.05 TO $753; Washington to
Phila delphia, $27O to 1892: New
York to st. Louis, Spills TO $2502.
- y,ota 70
Commissioners, Claude r. Porter, re-
fused to join other members in voting
for the rs per cent fare.
There are some people who won-
der why the railroads are travelling
the highway to oblivion" Mr.. Porter
said. ITO any such this case should
be enlightening. No other in
dustry In the throes of a depression
and in the face of vigorous competi-
ton seeks to raise the price of what
it sells to the public"
The basic Pullman fare will remain
unchanged at cents a mile.
Pullman Fare Unchanged.
The Eastern territory in which the
increased coach fare applies is bound
ed on the west by Lake Michigan,
Chicago, Peoria and Springfield. H.
St. Louis and Cairo, III. From Cairo
the southern boundary follows the
Ohio River to Huntington, W. Va.
then runs eastward TO include the
Norfolk (VaD area.
The /. C. c. issued an order yes
terdav which will make one-way and
round-trip coach tickets sold prior
to July Is good for passage until the
regular expiration date, provided that
date is prior to February IS, 1899.
Delay in Virginia.
RICHMOND. Va, July % tP.-The
State Corporation Commission today
granted seven railroads in Virginia
permission to increase their passenger
coach fares from to 2ia cents per
mile on intrastate travel. The new
rates will be effective August 5.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has granted Eastern railroads
authority to effect such an increase
However. Commissioner Thomas Ozlin
said the increase in Virginia could
not be made effective until August S
because the State law requires 10 days
notice to the public before such in
creases become operative
The commission said in its order
that the railways had shown an enor-
nous increase in the State in ex-
penditures and taxes and that it also
took under consideration the improve
ments made in the transportation
service including air-conditionins and
other passenger comforts
The commission expressed some
doubt that the half-cent increase
would provide the revenue anticipated
by the railroads. 1t said the increase
probably would be attended by loss
in travel.
The roads granted the higher coach
rate were the Baltimore & Ohio. Ches-
apeake 61 Ohio. Norfolk & Western,
Pennsylvania, Richmond, Fredericks-
burg Il Potomac, the Virginian and
the Valley of Virginia.
Fare Hike Authorized.
RALEIGH, N. c., July % tP.-The
North Carolina Utilities Commission
granted the Norfolk q Western Rail-
way authority today to increase pas
senger fares on its lines within this
State from 2 cents to 2l2 cents a mile.