The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1915-04-22

THE jitney bus something new to this Sec
ton of the country--will soon become an
accustomed sight in Ontario and the sur
rounding country. 1t will be the same type
I'M III. of jitney bus that has
i"e 'i'"ey "o'' caused so much conster-
nation to street car companies in all the
coast cities dm ing the past few months.
From all indications the jitney has come to
stay. There is real place for it in the
business world of today. 1t is another
step toward advancement and there is no
power that can long keep it down.
Luckily in this section of the country
we will not see the keen competition be-
tween the jitney and street car, as has been
the experience Of other cities. We have
not yet reached the stage of the street car,
and the jitney comes into virgin field.
But lack of competition has not caused
high charges. On the other hand there is
much speculation as to whether the rates to
be charged will allow of financial success
Of the proposition. In this connection it is
probably well to remember that the man.
agement of the Ontario jitney is a man that
has had much experience in the jitney busi-
ness and is no doubt satisfied with the
schedule Of pri, cs for he has had the sole
fixing of them md would undoubtedly have
made them higher were it necessary.
The jitney las caused great deal of
comment during the past week. 1t is said
that merchants Of Nyssa and New Ply
mouth view the advent of the jitney with
considerable arrehension. But there is no
call for it, II re is no reason why the jit-
ney should lrl all of the business to On
tario. For the jitney is concerned only
with the hauling of people-not with where
the people are going. The jitney illmake
two round trips each day from Ontario to
Nyssa and from Ontario to New Plymouth.
And there is nothing to keep the people
from using the jitney to go to Nyssa or New
Plymouth to trade.
Merchants and business men of our
neghboring cities will find that the more
means of transportation available, the more
business that will be created. 1t matters
not whether the means of transportation be
a jitney bus, passenger train or a street
car The result is all the same. 1t is a
step forward a real progressive move
and it will benefit Nyssa or New Plymouth
just as much as it will benefit Ontario.
The plan of Ontario merchants to re-
fund fares paid he jitney is legitimate
trade getting scheme. And merchants of
other towns are in no wise barred from
working out some scheme just as good if
not better. The jtney is not owned in any
manner by Onta 10 merchants. True, our
local merchants are responsible for the
coming of this jtney But it is a private
enterprise that is out for all the money it
can make, and is not tied up in any manner
with Ontario merchants to the detriment of
merchants of neighboring towns and cities.
The jitney will surely prove success
in this section, for it is one of the cheapest
forms of transportation. 1t is a progress
sive move, and ike all such, will success
fully weather storm of adverse criticism
or protest. Let us all realize that it is a
step forward and instead of fighting or
employ our time making plans
for the use of it. 1t presents many oppor-
tunities and is worthy of a great deal of
hard thinking