. Electric railway journal . eemsto be the judgment of practically everyone that this countryand the world in general is on a much higher price levelthan that existing in 1914, and that this higher level willbe maintained, even though it may drop off somewhat fromits present position. As a first step, therefore, I believe that these higher costsare permanent. Will they develop permanent competition ? Possible Forms of Competition At present the suburban steam line service is taking busi-ness away from some electric roads whose fares have beenincreased, but there is a movement on foot to raise
. Electric railway journal . eemsto be the judgment of practically everyone that this countryand the world in general is on a much higher price levelthan that existing in 1914, and that this higher level willbe maintained, even though it may drop off somewhat fromits present position. As a first step, therefore, I believe that these higher costsare permanent. Will they develop permanent competition ? Possible Forms of Competition At present the suburban steam line service is taking busi-ness away from some electric roads whose fares have beenincreased, but there is a movement on foot to raise suburbanand commutation steam road rates to a level commensuratewith their increased expenses, and such increases will rectifythis condition. I do not think we need permanently to fear the loss ofbusiness througli people walking. When rates of fare areraised, people occasionally start to walk to show their dis-pleasure at the action of the company, but this method ofcompetition is short-lived, and it is not long before those. 12 Electric Railway Journal who try to boycott the cars are using them whenever theirbusiness or convenience demands. The horse-drawn vehicle has largely been eliminated bythe self-propelled motor car, and as a competitor for streetcars, I think we can fairly consider it obsolete and in thediscard. The bicycle is used somewhat, particularly byyounger people, but I think its effect upon the street railwaybusiness can be considered negligible, although the motor-cycle and the motorcycle with a side car undoubtedly takeaway a good deal of business in the same manner as does theprivate automol)ile. When the United Railways & ElectricCompany of Baltimore was authorized to increase its adultfare from 6 cents cash to 7 cents cash, or four tickets for26 cents, on Sept. 18, 1919, the bicycle dealers of the cityput a half page joint ad in the daily papers saying Whypay increased car fare—Ride a bicycle and save money, etc. One of the exhibits filed with the Federa
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