Toronto-Lake Simcoe radial railway's future.

Toronto City Council, as mentioned in Canadian Railway and Marine World for November, pg. 706, voted on Oct. 1 to continue the operation of the radial electric railway connecting Toronto and Lake Simcoe until Nov. 30. This line, about 48 miles long, is owned by the City of Toronto and operated by Toronto Transportation Commission; the latter recommended that, on account of the large losses it is incurring, it should be abandoned on Sept. 30, but the city council, in application from York County municipalities, agreed to operate it for another two months. The T.T.C.'s recommendation for abandonment of the line was based upon a report prepared by R. M. Fuestel, Fort Wayne, Ind., President, Indiana Service Corporation, following a study of the situation, which was summarized in Canadian Railway and Marine World for July, pg. 462. The York County transportation committee, representing a number of municipalities served by the line, then had W. B. Redfern, of James, Protector and Redfern, Toronto, study and report upon the matter, his report being summarized in our November, pg. 706.

York County Council passed a resolution on Nov. 21 recommending to the Toronto city board of control that new cars be bought for the line, that a general improvement in service be effected, and that there be elimination or reduction of the motor coach competition with the radial cars now given by Gray Coach Lines, Ltd., coaches. Mr. Redfern reported to the council, in addition to his general report, that the line's capitalization, $2,510,000, is much too high for the 48 miles concerned; that that amount involves an annual payment, for the next 11 years, of $271,542 in fixed charges by the City of Toronto, and that he thought $950,000 would be a fair sum to which the capital should be written down. He contended that by an arrangement to pay off the debt over a longer period, the fixed charges could be reduced to $85,000 a year, which would reduce largely the annual deficit which the line is now incurring.

On Nov. 21, Clifford Case, M.L.A., appeared before Senior Judge Denton, of York County, during the latter's investigation into Toronto Transportation Commission affairs, and stated, on behalf of York County Council, that it considered that the deficit on the Lake Simcoe line was being shown at a greater figure than it really is, and that certain items are being charged against the line's operation which should properly be charged against the T.T.C. city system. He complained of the motor coach competition with the line. Mr. Redfern stated that the operating costs on the line are too high.

Mr. Case, in addressing York County Council on the same state, stated that I. S. Fairty, K.C., General Counsel, T.T.C., had suggested to him that the county buy the line. He said that he did not think that course advisable at present, but recommended strongly that if the county should secure the line, or an interest in it, all motor coach competition be eliminated.

D. W. Harvey, General Manager, T.T.C. in testifying before Judge Denton on Nov. 19, stated that the earnings of Gray Coach Lines, Ltd., motor coaches in the Lake Simcoe radial railway territory are credited to the radial line, and the coach expenses debited against it. He explained that the motor coach service is merely an attempt to save money in the Lake Simcoe service, by substituting coaches for the heavy radial cars on a portion of the schedule.

Toronto City Council agreed to allow the line to be operated until Nov. 30. Up to the time of writing, Nov. 23, it has taken no further action in regard to the matter.

Railways: Met.Ry., T. & Y.Rad.Ry., T.T.C.

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