Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-03
County Spokesman
Will Be Heard in
Bus Rate Quiz
Alto Vista and Rockville
Lines Are Involved
In Plea for Ruise
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE, Nov. 3.-Repre-
sentatives Of numerous Montgomery
County civic organizations were to
be heard by the Maryland Public
Service Commission today at the
second days hearing on the Capital
Transit Co.'S appeal for a raise in
rates and curtailment of certain
operations on the Alta Vista and
Rockville bus lines.
Suburban commuters served by
these two lines have protested the
proposed new fares filed with the
commission several months ago by
the transit company, and were .ex-
pected to testify today in support
Of the Montgomery County Commits
sioners and the Rockville Town
Council. which are opposing the
company's application.
When the hearing began yester-
day, spokesman for the Capital
Transit Co. placed before the COM
mission offers to increase service
on the Rockville bus line and to con-
tinue the service provided on the
Alta Vista line if the proposed in
creased fare is granted.
Dean j. Locke, staff engineer Of
the transit firm, said his company
would provide increased service on
the Montgomery line over that pro-
vided before and during a four
month trial period just ended. The
company also proposed that it con-
tinue the service provided on the
Alta Vista line, via Old Georgetown
road. during the experimental per-
iod. Both offers, however, are con-
tingent upon granting the company
authority to increase fares.
Exhibits Explained.
Mr.. Locke spent most of the time
on the stand presenting and ex-
planning the company's exhibits de-
signed to show the results of the
operations during the experimental
period and the need for increased
revenues from the service.
One Of the exhibits disclosed the
weekday operation on the two lines
before the experiment was under
taken as a result of an agreement
reached at the opening of the hear
ing last June, operations during the
experiment and proposed operation
II the company's request for in
creased rates is granted. 1t also was
pointed out that the proposal calls
for hourly service on Sundays on the
Rockville pike route.
Lengthy schedules filed by Mr..
Locke brought about considerable
discussion, 1t being pointed out by
r. E. L. Smith, representing the
Montgomery County commissioners
and the Rockville Council, that in
some instances the proposed sched-
ule and the one which has been
in effect are not adjusted to get
many persons employed in Wash
ington to their work at the time
required. Mr.. Locke said the COM
pany would be glad to discuss these
schedules with those interested with
the view of making adjustments.
H. M. Ramsdell of Gaithersburg
urged that the proposed schedule
restore the additional bus service
to Gaithersburg.
During his testimony Mr.. Locke
said that as a result of the expert
ment the deficit of the combined
service on the two lines had been
reduced from an annual basis OF
SAL 1903 before the test was under
taken to approximately s25 900. He
also said that bus miles operated
had been reduced "a per cent, pas
sengers carried 80 per cent, pas
senger revenue % per cent and cost
OF operation % per cent. The ex-
pertinent, he told the commission,
had not met the situation.