unit of fare. On the two lines from Salisbury Beach to Salisbury Junction, and from Salisbury Junction to Hampton Beach, the length of the existing zones is commensurate with the length of the proposed fare sections, and a rate of 6 cents, instead of 5 cents, does not appear to be excessive, in view of the higher cost of service upon lines which are operated during the summer months only. On the other two shore lines, the line from Plum Island pavilion to Plum Island Point, already referred to, and the line from Salisbury Beach to Black Rocks, the length of the existing zones are only 1.4 and 1.5 miles respectively. On these lines we believe that the rate of fare should be reduced from 6 cents to 5 cents, which is the typical unit of fare under the company's new fare plan. We are also of the opinion that on the Plum Island line a lapover privilege should be given to Balch's Corner without additional charge, as the total distance from Balch's Corner to Plum Island pavilion is only 4 miles, which is less than the average length of two fare sections. As the result of these readjustments the cash fare from Balch's Corner to Plum Island pavilion will be 10 cents instead of 15 cents, and from Balch's Corner to Plum Island Point 15 cents instead of 21 cents. Commutation tickets, good during all hours of the day, should also be sold in strips of 20 tickets for $1.50 between Balch's Corner and Plum Island pavilion, and in strips of 20 tickets for $2.40 between Balch's Corner and Plum Island Point. With the exceptions above noted, the Commission finds that the changes proposed in cash fares, ticket rates and fare limits are just and reasonable. The company is therefore authorized to file a new schedule containing the modifications recommended above and those already agreed to in writing by the company and an order will be issued permitting this schedule to become effective on short notice. ORDER. Notice of the Massachusetts Northeastern Street Railway Company relative to proposed changes in rates of fare upon its railway. It appearing that on April 25, 1918, an order was entered suspending tariffs filed by the company designated as M. P. S. C. No. 5, being a tariff of local passenger rates, and M. P. S. C. No. 6, being a reduced rate ticket tariff, until July 1, 1918, and it further appearing that a full investigation of the matter and things involved has been had and that the Commission, on the date hereof has made and filed a report containing its findings of fact and conclusions thereon, which said report is herein referred to and made a part thereof, It is Ordered, That the Massachusetts Northeastern Street Railway Company cancel the tariffs specified in the said order of suspension, and that it may file on two days' notice to the public and the Commission, new tariffs in lieu of those cancelled, which shall embody the provisions of the tariffs cancelled, as modified by the changes outlined in the report herein referred to. By the Commission, JUNE 29, 1918. [P. S. C. 2117] ALLAN BROOKS, Assistant Secretary. THE MIDDLESEX AND BOSTON FARE CASE. Notice of Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Company of proposed changes in rates of fare for passengers upon its railway. for Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Company. GEORGE M. Cox GEORGE K. GARDNER G. E. GLOVER for Citizens of Hopkinton. E. B. BISHOP for City of Newton. 1 HENRY W. JARVIS for Newton Board of Trade and Newton Improvement Association. JOHN T. SHEA for Waltham Chamber of Commerce. CLARENCE A. BUNKER for Town of Wellesley. In point of mileage the Middlesex and Boston Street Railway Company is the sixth largest street railway company in the commonwealth, being surpassed in this respect only by the Bay State, Boston Elevated, Worcester Consolidated, Springfield and Berkshire companies. Of its 130 miles of track, however, only 50 miles are located in the comparatively small cities of Newton and Waltham and the remainder run through country districts. One long line extends west from Newton Lower Falls through Wellesley, Natick, Framingham, Ashland and Hopkinton to Westborough, with branches running to Needham, Saxonville and Wayland. Another line extends from Arlington through Lexington and Bedford to Concord and Billerica, with branches to Woburn and Waltham. Practically all the track is laid in public ways, and there are no high-speed lines, very little long-distance traffic and an absence of any real community of interest between the city and country districts. A 6-cent fare was introduced on the country lines of this system as early as 1908, and since this Commission was organized in 1913 there have been two successive increases in fares. Prior to the first of these increases, in 1914, the company was charging 5 cents, with an additional cent for every transfer, on all its lines in Newton and Waltham, except those formerly owned by the Newton and Boston company. On the latter and on all its other lines it was charging 6 cents, with free transfer privileges, selling 50ride ticket books for $2.50 good west of Newton Lower Falls. On October 28, 1914, the Commission permitted the cancellation of the 50-ride books and the raising of the fare on the lines in Newton and Waltham to 6 cents, with the proviso that tickets should be sold upon these lines at the rate of 9 for 50 cents. It was estimated at the time that this increase would yield about $75,000 additional revenue. Last year the company came before the Commission again, seeking to charge a straight 7-cent fare, without tickets, in Newton and Waltham, and a similar 8-cent fare on the other lines west of Newton Lower Falls and in the Lexington territory. Conferences were held between the company and the remonstrants and a compromise' plan was finally agreed upon and approved by the Commission. Under this plan, the system was divided roughly into sections, according to earning capacity. The fare was made 8 cents where traffic is lightest and 6 cents where it is heaviest. On the sections of medium traffic, it was made either a straight 7 cents, or 7 cents with tickets sold at the rate of 20 for $1.20. Provision was also made for charging 1 cent additional in transferring to a line having a higher rate of fare. The following table shows how the 105.8 miles of line operated by the company are now divided as between these four grades of fares: The 6-cent lines are all in Newton and Waltham. Eight cents is charged on the lines from Lexington to Concord, Billerica and Woburn; on the lines from Needham to Wellesley and Newton; and on the lines in Westborough and Hopkinton. The straight 7-cent fare is charged between Lexington and Waltham and Arlington, and the 7-cent fare with the ticket privilege upon the remaining lines. It was estimated by the company that this change in fares might yield $60,000 additional revenue yearly. This compromise tariff went into effect on August 20, 1917, and it was understood that it should be tried for six months and that the whole question might be reopened at the end of that time without prejudice. The remonstrants who originated the plan urged that such a trial would throw the light of actual experience upon important questions which were in doubt; that the test would cover typical months of summer, fall and winter; and that, with the evidence so secured, it would be possible to determine whether or not 8-cent and 7-cent fares are expedient from the standpoint of the company itself. It was further pointed out that both the Commission and the community would have the advantage of similar experiments which were being made by other companies with the so-called "copper zone" system and other methods of charging. The new schedule now under consideration was filed by the company on March 14, 1918, some time after the six months had expired, to become effective April 14, 1918. Pending investigation, it was suspended until July 1, 1918. It provides for a straight 7-cent fare, without tickets, on all lines in Newton and Waltham, including the line between Needham and Newton Upper Falls, where the fare is now 8 cents, and a similar 8-cent fare on all the other lines in the territory west of Newton Lower Falls and in the Lexington division. It is further provided that 1 cent additional shall be charged in transferring to a line with an equal or higher rate of fare. For certain rides requiring a transfer, therefore, the charge would be 9 cents. The mileage would be divided between the two rates of fare approximately as follows: The company estimates that, if these fares had been in force in 1917, its revenue would have been increased by about $119,000. The theoretical gain as compared with existing fares, however, would be less, since these fares were in effect only during the last four months of 1917. It is pertinent to consider how far revenue expectations have been realized in the case of the increases already made. The first increase authorized by this Commission became effective on November 1, 1914, and it was estimated that it would yield about $75,000 additional revenue. The following table shows the pas |