Evening star., 1951-03-22
Better Transit
Urged
ToCut Losses
Witnesses Declare
1t Would Increase
Suburban Patronage
By J. B. Zotmon


Better service on nearby Mary
land buslines would sharply in
crease patronage and help wipe
out the Capital Transit Co.'S losses
on those lines, the Maryland Pub
lie Service Commission was told
today.
Such a view was expressed by
several of the approximately 20
citizen group representatives who
appeared before the commission
in Silver Spring to protest the
company's plan to discontinue
eight Montgomery and Prince
Georges buslines on April /.
One of the witnesses, William
H. Pavitt. jr.. of Glen Mar Park.
near Bethesda, attributed the
scarcity of riders on the N-8 line.
along Massachusetts, avenue and
Macarthur boulevard, to the in
frequent service.
He said buses now run every
hour during the midday period
and every half hour during rush
hours.
Hardship on Children Seen.
II am confident" he told the
commission, that more persons
would use this line if service were
improved"
He said approximately 1000
homes in the area served by the
N-8 line would be without public
transportation if the line were
abandoned.
Mrs. Val Sherman. Kenwood.
who opposed discontinuance Of
the o. line, said such a move
would work a particular hardship
on school children.
In response to a question by
F. Gloyd Await, Capital Transit
Co. attorney. Mrs. Sherman said
the line also is of prime impor-
tance" in enabling servants to
get to homes in the Kenwood
area.
Like Mr.. Pavitt, Mrs. Sherman
said she believed better bus serv-
ice would result in an increased
number of riders.
Mr.. Pavitt was supported by
Lewis Machir, representing the
w. c. & A. N. Miller Development
Co., and Philip Fairbanks of the
Woodacres Citizens Association.
Others opposing elimination Of
the 0-2 line included r. Bates
Warren, Chevy Chase, who said
he has developed many communi-
ties along the 0-2 route and Mrs.
T. ]. Wacker, representing the
Leland-Bradley Citizens Associa-
tion. They also urged improved
service.
Greenbelt Councilman Frank ].
Lastner charged that the 1900
residents of the town would be
isolated if Capital Transit goes
through with its plan to abandon
the bus line serving that area.
While agreeing with the COM
pany's claim that it is losing
money on the Greenbelt line, Mr..
Lastner contended more Green
belt residents would use the line
il better service were provided.
He said 1t takes about one and q
half hours to get to downtown
Washington.
Project Held Imperiled.
II understand the Government
anticipates placing about 5000
additional employees in the Green
belt-Branchville area" Mr.. Last
ner said. IF they don't get public
transportation, the Government
probably will not go through with
its plan, thus resulting in loss
of revenue for Maryland"
Questions fired at company wit
nesses yesterday indicated citizen
groups intend to base their op-
position to the proposal on the
firms large earnings in 1850 from
its overall operations in the Wash
ington area.
Most of yesterdays hearing was
devoted to testimony by Dean J.
Locke. staff engineer for the
transit company, and Robert E.
Harvey, special assistant to the
company controller.
Mr.. Locke said six of the eight
buslines involved have shown de-
clines ranging from 18 per cent
to 80 per cent in the number of
passengers carried during the past
year.
S905,857 Net Income.
Walter Coppinger of the Mont
gomery County Civic Federation.
in questioning Mr.. Harvey, elected
the information that the com.
pany'S net income last year from
all its operations was $905,857.
According to Mr. Coppinger, this
represented a 173 per cent in
crease over the 1949 net profit Of
$332,1o0.
I'VE in Maryland" said Mr..
Coppinger, "are taking the burden
lof losses for a company that is
making unprecedented profits"
Senate Confirms Martin