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Show I STREET CARS j IN TROUBLE. S With a court decision by the federal y court, the street car fares in Chicago J must be reduced from 8 to 7 cents. 1 The announcement also is made that 2 fhe wages of street car employes must be cut to meet this reduction in fares. I ;J The employes reply that they will re slet the attempt to make them carry I M the entire burden. - All orer the country the street car " J companies are in trouble. In only a few places is the old rate of 5 cents if maintained, but even in cities where Bj Une fares are about a nickel the trac- ;, H tion companies are finding It difficult I .Jji to keep out of bankruptcy. K M This advene condition has been IvJ brought about by the automobile. A big percentage of the men. women ii'm an(i children who five years ago rode 'W pn street cars are today carried on automobiles. Even those who do not im own automobiles quite often are invited in-vited to "step In" on their way "to town " At one lime stock in street car companies com-panies was valuable and the companies had extensive credit. Now not half a dozen traction companies in the Unit cd States are free from financial dis tress. This condition eventually may result in the cities operating the street car lines much as large buildings operate elevators, not with the Idea of profit but as an accommodation. |