Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-17
COUNCILS ASKED TO
GRANT FRANCHISE
FOR AUTO BUS LINE
New Company Plans to
Operate 120 Heavy Cars.
Damage to Pavements
Feared = Director Taylor
Won't Comment.

y request to Councils for city fran
chise for an omnibus line on the prin-
clpal streets of Philadelphia was present
ed at the special session of Common
Council this afternoon by George Nc
Curdv, president of that body. He pre-
sented letter from v. II. Conkle, of
the United Traction Improvement Com
panv," with offices at 1919 Pennsylvania
Building, asking for the franchise, and
then directed that 1t be turned over to
the Highway Committee
For DAYS a story has been current that
part of the program of opposition to the
subway proposition was to be petition
for an omnibus line. on the plea that 1t
would relieve the need for improved
traffic facilities. This. the story ran,
would be seized upon as an excuse to
delay action on the subway.
Walter C. Mclntire, an electrical con-
tractor at IL North Fifth street is the
man in charge of the omnibus project.
He is related to George c. Pierre, OF the
Board Of Registration Commissioners The
belief that the scheme may be urged as
substitute for other transit plans is
supported by a statement issued by Nc
1ntire for the United Traction Improve
ment Company, which will operate the
line.
McIntire says: "The petition for the
franchise puts the question of immediate
relief Of passenger traffic conditions in
the residential sections squarely UP to
the city government"
In the days when the omnibus line was
nothing but a rumur those who heard 1t
said the plan might be used to divert
attention from the transit proposition be-
fore Councils
"Of course, bus line never would take
the place of subway" said one man
prominently concerned in the subway
plans, but, at the same time, those op-
posed to the subway might use it as
a preteXt for delaying action"
Mclntire denied this in a statement to-
day. He said:
The statement has been made that the
franchise asked for by this company will
| first have to be offered to the present
Traction Company. We are advised by
counsel that this is not true and that
the reference only applies to electric rail-
way companies desiring franchises in this
city. careful reading of the act will
make this quite clear to anyone, and, in
addition, there are Supreme Court de-
cisions bearing out this position.
TAYLOR WON'T COMMENT.
Director Taylor. OF the City Transit De-
partment, declined to discuss the plan
for an omnibus line. He had not heard
a petition for a franchise was to be in
troduced.
Electricity generated by gasoline motors
carried on the cars will be the motIye
power for the new bus line. The United
Traction Improvement Company" is the
name of the organization which seeks the
franchise. Mclntire is the president.
According TO McIntre the organizing
officials have visited England, Germany
and France to study modern omnibus
construction. The United Traction I'm
provement Company will have 12O cars
McIntire says. Each can carry % pas.
senGers at a speed of Il miles an hour
| The cars will weigh 1O,5OO pounds, but
that is not too great weight for the
pavement. McIntire asserts.
| Three routes are designated in the
| petition to Common Council
Route number one will start at Front
and Market streets. and will traverse
Market, Broad, Diamond, 25th streets
Allegheny avenue, 9th. Diamond, SSd
and Dauphin streets.
Route number two will start at Front
and Market streets. and will traverse
Market Broad, Porter, 21st Wolf. 22d
Mifflin. 24th and Christian streets.
Route number three will start at Front
and Market streets, and will traverse
Market. 32d, Chestnut SD. Walnut and
SD streets.
PAVING DAMAGE FEARED.
William d. Uhler. assistant engineer II
the Highway Bureau, was asked toda,
I NAsb 10 he t,t,s,
l05Oo pounds would damage paving The
bus line project was news to Mr. Uhler
Il had not heard that anyone plannec
to operate a bus line" he said "anc
until ! have some details as to the wa,
the trucks will be built it would be i'm
possible TO tell what effect they woulf
nave on the pavement. Some of the Bald
win Locomotive Works trucks are heavier
than those proposed for the bus rout,
and Chief Connell is investigating now tc
see how much damage heavy trucks in,
fict on the city streets"
When the Hughes bus line was running
or Broad street the damage to payina
vas severe
Blueprints showing the construction nj
the proposed cars were issued today b,
the traction company The cars will re-
semble those used by the Fifth avenue
line in New York city. but their motIy,
power will be electricity instead of Easo
line. This. according to McIntire, will
eliminate the shock of starting and stop
ping noticeable on the New York stages
There will be double rows of eros,
seats inside the stages and on a top decL
winding stairs will lead up from the real
entrance platform TO the open air deck
. On the left side are six cross seats
Divided by an aisle running the Length
of the car are four more and one aisl.
seat. Arrangements will be the same fol
both decks.
DEMOCRATS DECIDE TO DROF