The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-15
More Citizens Give Reasons
for Urging Continuance
of Present Service
ALL WILLING TO PAY
AN INCREASED FARE
North Birmingham Man Says Late
Cars Are Especially Important
There When Big Plants Are
All in Operation

| No citizen has yet appeared who states
| that the "owl car service in Birming-
ham is not a good thing and should be
discontinued. The probable discontinue
ton of the service after the expiration of
the 30 days set for trial, March II, will
work inconveniences to thousands and
meet the disapproval of practically every
resident of the city, according to ex-
pressions that are being freely made upon
| the subject
| The argument most often advanced is
that Birmingham is large enough town
to have such SERVICE that other. towns
of Birmingham's size have it, and that
a fare of 10 cents would be willingly paid
| by any one rather than have Tie all night
cars discontinued because they are not
paying operating expenses to the COM
| pany.
"The people whose franchise the street
car company is using are due some con-
| sideration," said Sidney Lazarus. Il do
| not believe the loss from the operation
of the cars during the period of time
which they are called owl cars is enough
to hurt the company, and as other peo-
| pie have said, the public is due some con-
cession for the concessions they grant
| by riding crowded cars during rush hours
| of the day
| "The all night cars without doubt
Will encourage the growth of the town.
| | myself would not be a regular patron,
] but there are no doubt many circum-
stances which will arise when they will
come in very convenient. 1t is difficult
| to make early morning train or get
| homo when arriving on similar trains.
They have these all night cars in other
| towns and l think that we should have
| them here.
| IF it is shown to be necessary it ap-
! pears to me that any one would be will
| ing to pay fare of 10 cents after
O'Clock and before or o'clock for the
| use of these cars. That would still be
| much better than going to hotel or
getting a taxicab for two or three dol
| lars"
I'VE would certainly like to have them
| kept up in North Birmingham" said w.
| W. Walker, a resident of that section of
| the city. "This is one of the most inn
| portant industrial sections of the city.
and the cars afford a great convenience
| for the men who 60 to and from these
many factories and plants at all hours
| of the nights and morning. Especially
| when the United States Cast Iron Pipe
| works gets to running a full shift will
| the service be important. These indus
tries draw men from all parJS OIL the
city and there are many of them who go
4 to work or who work during the early
morning hours.
1T is almost impossible for, us to catch
! the early morning trains, especially the
| Alabama Great Southern north, unless
we get taxicab or have the owl car
| service. With the possible exception of
| the Boyles line, l think that the North
Birmingham all night cars would pay bet
4 ter than any line in the city.
| ut seems to me that the street car
company should not expect to make ex-
penses during the first few months of
| the service. however, 1 would be perfect
| ly willing and I know of no one else
who would not be willing to pay an in
creased fare of 10 cents during these hours,
| rather than have the cars discontinued
| 1t appears to me the company surely
| could make expenses then. The patron
age of the lines will grow as the service
grows older. 1t will be disappointment
to me and l know it will be to many
others If the all night cars are stopped"