St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-07-15
Petersen Gives
Reasons For Bus
Fore Reduction

H8I8S$8u Olv0S
Reasons For Bus
Fore Reduction
CONTINUED from page -
had to be taken into considera-
ton.
One was the value Of the pro-
perty used. For the Minneapolis
system, we fixed this at $685.
900: for st. Paul. little over S.
0oo, 900.
We estimated a years revenue
for Minneapolis at sS,466. 900 and
for st. Paul. s4.s52. 900.
We estimated the yearly ex-
pense for the Minneapolis system
at ss,s15.ooo and for st. Paul at
s4,b27, 900.
Net profit for the Minneapolis
system came 10 1851. 900 giving n
rate Of return of Tia per cent:
net profit for st. Paul. S324, 900,
with a return Of 6,4e per cent.
should Reduce To One Company
There Ia one factor In the Min
neapolis system which should DO
changed. This Ia the ownership OF
the Acknowledgement bus line.
which In now operated by the
Twin city Motor Bus Company.
city officials In Minneapolis con-
tend that the NicolIet-Hennepin
line, running through the heaviest
populated area In Minneapolis,
and a good revenue producer,
should be operated by the Mime
apolis Street Railway Company,
and the commission has no order
cd, directing that there be q
transfer OF the Nicollet- Hennepin
line from the Twin City Motor
Bus Company TO the Minneapolis
street Railway Company by jan
uary 1, 1856.
In our order, we have set the
bus fare on the Nicollet -Hcnne-
pin line to be the same M the
other bus routes In Minneapolis
NO as to avoid discrimination.
In connection with ownership,
II would simplify matters before
this commission II we had but one
company to deal with, the Twin
City Rapid Transit Company. the
parent company, which Ia the
holding company for The 81. Paul
city Railway Company, the Min.
neapolis Street Railway Company
and the Twin City Motor Bus
Company,
Necessity Of Mass Transportation
would like to emphasize to all
citizens In the Twin Cities metro
politan area the Importance OF a
good system OF mass transporta-
ton. The buses are an absolute
necessity TO all people who do not
have automobiles available, and
necessary even TO many OF those
who do have cars. Young people
the older people and school chill.
dron are dependent on tho bus
system. Bus transportation has
certain advantages and may have
some Inconvenience, II In cheap.
err and safer than private trans
portation, and the rider In insured
In case OF accident.
Moreover, II q city IN 10 flour.
ish, II must have mass transpor-
tation. A good transit system In
civic problem. II is not the
buses that cause congestion In
the streets, but the autos. Pri-
vate automobiles average les.
than NJ passengers, while the
buses carry so or more.
Mayor Daley of Chicago said,
III our main shopping and bust.
ness ccnters are not to be halt
offices and half garages. we mus,
develop public transportation that
is fast and efficient and econ.
official, Uuiess we do 80. a vas,
network OF super-highways may
become Frankensteln OF con.
geation."
Here In the Twin Citics, we
have endeavored TO establish q
bus fare which win be adequate
for the needs OF the company. but
which win TO some degree re.
capture lost patronage.
Theodore w. Khcei. transit ex-
pert OF New York city. recently
said: AS the fare goes up. the
riding goes down" Mr. Kheel
called for IA concerted effort un-
der the guidance and direction OF
city and state officials to solve the
related twin evils OF traffic con-
gestion and transit declines be.
fore II Is too late"
In conclusion. would like TO
urge the people OF the Twin Cities
metropolitan area to support mass
transportation for the reason that.
generally speaking, higher fares
are the result Of lack OF patron.