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 l20 Heavy Cars.
Damage to Pavements
Feared Director Taylor
Won't Comment.

An effort to obtain n city franchise for
an omnibus line on ethe principal streets
was made today at the meeting of
Common Council. 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 s an
excuse TO delay action on the subway.
Walter C. McIntire, an electrical con-
tractor at 10 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: 1.-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 rumur those who heard II
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 a 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
pretext for delaying action"
Mclntire denied this in 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. A careful reading of the act will
make TINS quite clear to anyone and in
ADDITION. there are Supreme Court de-
cislons 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
petition for a franchise was to be in
troduced.
Electricity generated by gasoline motors
carried ON the cars will be the motive
power for the new bus line. The United
Traction Improvement Company" Is the
name of the organization which socks the
franchise. Mc1ntre Is the president.
According TO NlcIntire the organizing
off1cials have visited England Germany
and France TO study modern omnibus
construction. The United Traction I'm
provement Company will have 100 cars.
Mclntire says. Each can carry 2S pas
sengers at speed of Il miles an hour
that Is not too great n 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, 33d
and Dauphin streets.
Route number two will start at Front
and Market streets. and will traverse
Market. Broad. Porter, 2lst Wolf 22d,
Minlin, 2ith and Christian streets.
Route number three will start at Front
and Market streets, and will traverse
Market, sod. Chestnut, 33d, Walnut and
SD streets.
PAVING DAMAGE FEARED.
William d. Uhler, assistant engineer in
the Highway Bureau. was asked TODAY
whether he thought an omnibus weighing
lO5O0 pounds would damage paving. The
bus line project was news TO MIR. UhIer
Il had not heard that anyone planned
to operate a bus line" he said land
until ] have some details as to the wav
the trucks will be built it would be i'm
possible to tell what effect they would
nave on the pavement. Some of the Bald
win Locomotive Works trucks are heavier
than those proposed for the bus route
and Chief Connell is investigating now to
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 paving
was severe.
Blueprints showing the construction of
the proposed cars We're issued today by
the traction company. The cars will re-
semble those used by the Fifth avenue
line in New York city, but their motive
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 cross
seats inside the stages and on ton decl,
winding stairs will lead up from the rear
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 aisle
seat. Arrangements will be the same for
both decks.