Evening star., 1950-05-08
4. B. & W. Asks
Scents More
On Most Lines
Bus Firm Files Notice
Of Increase Planned
Effective June a

Effective June a
Notice Of intention to raise bus
fares was filed today by the Alex
andria. Bancroft & Washington
Transit Co.
The higher rates, which the
company seeks to make effective
June 4, would be as follows:
Interstate cash fares from Is
to 20 cents, interstate token rates
from 1917 to 171a cents, on intra-
state Virginia rides cash fares
from 10 to Is cents and token
rates from 71a to 121a cents.
Intrastate fares between Alex
andria and points on the Mount
Vernon and Fort Belvoir lines alsc
would be increased by S cents.
The company said it planned
to establish a new zone compris-
ing Alexandria and Arlington. In
this zone fares are Is cents cash
or one token worth 712 cents, plus
S cents in cash. Under the new
tariff, tokens would be sold al
the rate of four so cents ano
the rider would have the option
of paying Is cents cash or one
token worth 121a cents.
Notice Filed With ice.
The notice of intention was
filed with the Interstate Com
merce Commission. The increase
will become effective automatic.
ally unless the 'ICC blocks it
either temporarily to conduct ar
investigation, or permanently.
The company also asked the
Virginia State Corporation Com
mission to schedule a hearing or
it's proposal for higher fares with
in the State.
Beverly c. May, general man.
ager of the A. B. g. w.. said the
company was forced to take ac-
tion because of a steady decline
in passenger revenue.
At the same time, Mr.. May saio
the bus company has offered its
employees an increase of 10 cents
an hour in wages. plus other
fringe" benefits, contingent or
and effective with the increase
Technically. the employees have
been on strike since last June 81
The company has been operated
by the State of Virginia during
that time to prevent interruption
of service.
Arnold Increase Appealed.
The A. B. & w. action came
just as the Arlington County
Board sought to block fare in.
creaSes on Arnold Line buses. The
board appealed to the ICC to re-
consider its. recent decision au.
thorizing Arnold to raise charges
for rides on it's system, which also
serves nearby Virginia and down.
tOWIl washington.
The board contended there were
errors in the ICC findings fol
Arnold-known officially as the
Washington. Virginia & Maryland
Coach Co. 1t urged the ICC tt
look into the $4,000 annual sal.
ary paid the company president
Joseph L. Arnold. and also tt
investigate the terminal facility
rental paid Mr.. and Mrs. Arnold
The board said the rental was
81 200 a month in 1912 and is
$4,000 now.
In behalf of the A. B. e. w.
Mr.. May said revenue for the last
half of l949 was $4,000 less
than for the first half of the
year. He said first quarter rev.
enue in 1850 was $111,000 less
than the corresponding period Of
1949.
Cites Passenger Decline.
Despite curtailment of expenses
Mr.. May declared, the company
had a net loss of $4,000 in Jan.
uary, February and March.
Mr.. May said that if the pro.
posed wage increase had been il
effect during the first quarter, tht
company deficit would have beer
more than $4,000 in that period
He said the utility has effected
all possible economies, consistent
with adequate and efficient service
in modern vehicles.
He attributed passenger revenue
decline to several factors. HI
said:
Rush hour service, always thu
most costly to a transportation
company, has been hamstrung BY
traffic congestion, losing up to 81
per cent of its efficiency due tt
delays. Neighborhood theater,
and shopping centers, private au'
tomobiles and television have alst
contributed greatly"