The Washington times., 1915-02-27
J|TNEY BUS WAVE IS
SWEEPING EASTWARD
Passenger Traffic Being Revo-
Iutionized in Many Cities
From Coast to Coast.

SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 27.-City pas
senger traffic in every city and town
of Importance on the Pacific coast is
being revolutionized by the advent of
the jitney bus And even the officials
of the big street railway corporations
admit 1t has come to stay.
When the first jitney bus operator
appeared on the streets of San Fran
for cents from the Ferry building
to Market and Castro streets. a dis
tance of three miles, local traction
magnates smiled.
"He won't last a week." they said.
He'll starve to death if he sticks to
the game of bucking the street rail-
way company"
Today there are 600 jitney buses OPP
Grating in San Francisco alone. and
they are taking thousands Of dollars
daily from the street car railway
company.
Traction Company Hurt.
Traction officials In every city Of
the State admit the jitney bus Is
making deep inroads on their receipts.
"Our company" said Paul Shoup.
president Of the Pacific Electric rail-
way Of Los Angeles. at a recent gath
ering Of traction magnates In Sacra-
mento, has lost 100000 in receipts
In the past four months on account of
the jitneys. We have millions of dol
lars invested where the owners Of the
jitney buses have but thousands. We
want the jitney bus operator to come
under the regulations of the State
railroad commission. The street rail.
way companies have opened up scores
OF suburbs by extending their lines
some protection"
More than 1000 jitneys are operat-
ing in Los Angeles. Everywhere the
street car goes. the iitney bus is
found too. In San Francisco, Portland.
Seattle, Los Angeles. the street car com
panies are laying off employees AMI
these men are buying automobiles on
the installment plan and operating
them as jitney buses.
In discussing the jitney bus situa-
ton In Seattle recently. Mayor Hiram
Gill said:
1T will surprise me greatly if an
other foot OF street car track Is ever
laid In Seattle. In my opinion motor
propelled vehicles are as logically the
successor to the electric car as the
electric car was the logical successor
OF horse-drawn vehicles"
Autobus owners and drivers in San
=
Buss Association. have already engag-
ed legal staff, and are prepared TO
light any attempt to legislate them
out OF business.
Popular In Pueblo.
PUEBLO. Col. Feb. T.-Jitney buses
are now operating full blast in Pueblo.
They are in open competition with the
street cars and doing a big business.
In fact so serious have the titneys be-
come. from the standpoint Of street
car men. that delegation Of employees
Of the Tramway Company appealed to
the city commissioners to put the jit-
neys out of business. The commission
ers have looked the ground over. how
ever, and are Of the opinion that it
can't be done.
The concern Of motormen and con-
ductors employed by the street ca,
company Is due to the fact that they
declare the company officials have re.
on many lines and their chances OF
having steady employment are ruined
The reduction in the car service has
resulted In many men being thrown out
Of work.
Taxicabs Feel Effects.
KANSAS CITY. Mo-. Feb 27.--Its a
long face the taXicab chauffeur here
wears these days. Fares are few and
long between and it's all the fault OF
the jitney buses which go most any
where In Kansas City now within 9
two miles radius for a nickel fare.
The takes have been hit the hardes
at their stand at the Union station. The
nickel Chasers' get most Of the bust
ness, making a loop from the station tc
all the hotels and charging only s.
cent fare. One travelling man was ar
rested recently because he refused tt
pay taxi charge of $l.lO for one of The
notels to the depot on the ground tha
1t was exhorbitant The compan,
proved that $1.1O was the regular rate
and he was fined.
lie made the next trip in an auto
for nickel and declared he woulC
preach ',jitney buses" clear across the
country.
Jitneys grew in Kansas City DESPITE
the most adverse weather conditions
and the hills.
So far no regulations have been an.
piled to the jitneys other than the traf
nc rules.