The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-24
The Jitney Experiment.

! The Washington strap-hanger will not be mis-
led by the ovcreuthusiastc sponsors OF the So
Icallcd jtncy bus into expecting too much OF this
rowing little privatcer which is soon to fling out
its flag and go into commission the Capitals
broad highways. For period OF two hours twice
each weekday this city is confronted with prob
lem in passenger transportation, very similar to
the problem which confronts every other city OF
its size. Within these two two-hour periods the
great majority OF the wage-earners must be car
ricd from their homes to the business section down
town and back again. In some cities with popu-
lation approximately that OF Washington the con-
gestion morning and evening may be less marked
because greater diversity OF business activities
means that the periods of going to and returning
from work prolonged; in other words there
may be total OF five six rush hours" instead
! OF four. But it is a fact that on Sundays and
during twenty OF the twcnty-four hours of every
weekday Washington's street facilities are
ample 1t may be added-and fair minded
lstrap-hangcr cnd-scat hog will deny-that the
street service here is complete convcn-
lent and we'll conducted as that OF any city in the
country and far exccls that OF great many that
might be named. Its tracks extend far into the
suburbs in every direction, from whence a large
part OF its patronage is derived Naturally the
jtney bus promoters will not reach out for this
ptll On"Sc EOt lot any lnat demands d larger
haul than is consistent with profitable operation
iof the scent auto service. They will seek routes
yielding the largest number OF passengers for the
smallest number OF miles traversed, aiming to cap
ture the cream OF the trafiic-the short haul The
middle distance and the suburban busincss-the
least prohtable-will be left to the street
ipanics. With these probable conditions in view
there TO be reason to expect that the
jitney bus will relieve the rush hour congestion
TO any appreciablc- extent. The prospect is that,
III passengers prefer the bus service that of the
street cars the former will a portion Of
the downtown, short-haul patronage, depicting
the street companies revenues but affording
little relief to the traffic situation. There would
appear 10 be, however, number OF promising
fields for the jtney bus in the smaller suburban
communities 10 which the street car tracks have
not yet penetrated: in which cases it could prof
tably perform the work OF feeder to the lines.
The letter OF President George T. Hamilton OF
the Capital Traction Company to the Public
Utilities Commission, pointing out the possibility
of injury and injustice being inflicted upon the
street car companies is entitled to impartial con-
sideration. 1t must not be forgotten that most
of the lines extended into the suburbs furnished
accommodation to the public at considerable loss
when first put in operation, and now. with
the traffic largely increased a street railroad carry
ing passengers upward of six miles for scent
fare would be unable to maintain its present
efficient and frequent service and profits.
were it to be deprived of any considerable part OF
the revenues resulting from the shorthaul traffic
The advantage of economical operation at the
start is be all in favor of the itney bus These
vehicles will be operated at minimum of ex-
pense and contribute practically nothing to the
city's revenues or to the care of the streets
Should the experiment prove successful and the
jitney become a permanent institution it must
speedily and inevitably become subject to the
regulation by the Public Utilities Commission. No
one would seriously suggest that the jtney is noti