Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-02-04
AUTOS COMPETE WITH STREET
CARS.
(From Portland Spectator. }

Interesting. announcements relat-
ing to transportation were made in
the Journal on Tuesday. 1t was
stated that the auto had appeared
that day in Portland as competitor
of the street railway company, that
fifteen machines were carrying pas
sengers at cents each, and that
within few days between sixty and
seventy autos would be fighting the
car company. There was dispatch
to the effect that the Pacific Motor
Coach Company, which carries pas
sengers in opposition to the electric
cars between Los Angeles and sub
urban towns, had been sued by cred
itors, And telegram stated that the
motor buses running between Cen
trail Point, Medford and Ashland had
forced the Southern Pacific to aban-
don it's motor car service. All of
which shows that there was a good
deal stirring in the transportation
line.
For time we shall enjoy the auto
ride at 5 cents head; but our pleas
ure will not be permanent. While
it may be possible to give twenty
minute auto ride for a nickel, it is
not likely that the equipment can be
renewed at that figure,
AS long as the present auto rivals
of the street car hang together we
shall have them dropping us at our
doors as IL we owned them; when
they are worn out it is doubtful if
there will be others to take their
places. Experts on cost and main
tepance assure me that it can't be
done, Notwithstanding the success
that has attended the jitney bus in
Los Angeles and some other cities of
southern California The jitney
made it's appearance down there
three months ago; it is a machine
that was bought in good times by
man who thought they would get bet
ter, and who, in an effort to hids his
disappointment and make up his in
stallments, is transporting passengers
at cents head. About the time
he has paid for the auto his jitney
will be junk.
1t is interesting but not surprising
to find that the auto bus has driven
the motor car out of southern Oregon
and been driven by the electric car
out of southern California. The peo-
pie of southern California knew what
the electric line has done for them,
and have refused to expose it to the
ruinous competition of the motor
bus, which, paying very small tax,
and waiting for the development that
the electric company has brought, is
little more than a parasite. Ordi-
nances were adopted regulating the
auto bus, which did not pay.
In southern Oregon the auto bus
has driven the motor train out of
service-for short time. The train
had to maintain schedule; had to
have a certain number of men as
crew; had to keep up its right of
way; was under the supervision of
the railway commission. The auto
bus is free from all these bonds; it
does not have to file its schedule of
time or rates with anybody; can op-
crate with one man, a woman, or a
boy; and has neither to buy nor to
maintain a right of way. Indeed,
the people of southern Oregon have
expended vast sum of money in
providing beautiful, smoothly
paved boulevard over which the auto
bus runs.
When this boulevard needs repair,
and when the auto buses that are
now wearing it out and themselves
out to go to the scrap heap, the peo-
pie of southern Oregon will petition
the Southern Pacific Company to
again give them the transportation
facilities they now despise.