Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-16
,JTTNEYS TO BE BUILT
AND RUN IN THIS CITY
ON A LARGE SCALE
Business Men and Legisla-
tors Consider the Posi-
bilities of Manufacture,
Operation and Need Of
Regulation.

Philadelphia now plans not only to
adopt the jitney bus, but to manufacture
it. thus making the Western innovation
bring double share of prosperity to AN
Eastern city.
Discussion of the iitncy bus is passing
from the realms Of passengers and would
be passengers to the circles of business
men, who are planning to take advantage
OF its popularity, and of Legislators, who
are getting ready to regulate its opera
tions.
one company is endeavorinE to obtain
"A franchise from Councils to enable IL
to operate on II large scale in this city.
A Germantown business mems aSsOCia-
tion met today to consider plans to oper-
ate jitneys i'm that section of the city.
Two Philadelphia manufacturing firms.
which last year sold several hundred jit-
ney buses in other cities, are planning
to increase their output.
Philadelphia manufacturers of vehicles
have been aware of the commercial posi-
bitics in the making of jitney buses.
The Fulton Walker Company. 18th and
Locust streets. last year sold more than
200 motor vehicles which are operating
as iitney buses in other cities, in addition
to many more which are running on a
l0-cent fare basis, as on the 9TH avenue
line in New York. Springfield, Mass;
Plymouth Pa, and Cumberland. Md,
are among the cities which are using
this firms output.
BUSES MADE FOR MANY CITIES,
Another company in this city. famous
for its production of street cars. sold
about 200 motorbuses last year, of which
some Went to New York for the 9TH
avenue line and the rest were put in
service as iitneys.
The cities served include New Orleans
Washington, Birmingham, Ala; Houston
Tex; Syracuse, y. Y; HOrnell, n. ";
Stamford. Conn; Miami. Fla, and Sails
bury, Md. Salisbury, with its 5000 to
lU000 inhabitants. has no trolley system,
and it plans TO depend entirely upon jIt-
ney service for transit facilities.
Both these firms are working on plans
for increasing their production. In one
Of them the sales manager is devotIng
his time almost exclusively to preparing
for the growth of jitney popularity.
The Germantown Business Mems Asso-
citation planned this morning to map out
Iitney route from the intersection of
Germantown and Chelten avenues 10 Rox-
borough. II will offer financial guar
antee for jitney bus line, the amount
of the guarantee to be fixed by COM
petitive bidding. Prospective bidders will
accompany committee of the asso-
citation over possible routes An attempt
Will be made TO open the line as soon as
possible
Although the distance is three miles az
the crow files 1t is between six and eight
miles by trolley. The travelling time IS
about one hour with the paying of two
trolley fares, the use of three car lines
and a walk OF several squares II Is said
the trip can be made In 10 minutes in a
! jitney. Additional routes beneficial to
Germantown business men will be planned
later,
BILL IN STATE SENATE
| Edward w Patton, OF this city, intro
| duced in the State Senate bill permit
| ing city governments to pass ordinances
establishing reasonable rates Of license
| fees on all motor vehicles employed in
transporting passengers for pay over
| fixed routes, regulating the operation of
| such vehicles, the rates 10 be charged
and designating the routes. The fees,
under the provisions OF the bill. would go
| TO the City Treasury.
| The Board of Trades Directors. at al
/ most the same time. was adopting a
resolution urging such legislation IN view
OF the experience of western cities,
| where the jltney industry grew so rapidly
! as to evade laws to regulate it.
/ The United Traction Improvement Com
/ pany made application TO Councils last
| September for franchise TO operate
| gaso-electrlc buses over three routes,
/ serving North, South and West Phna-
| delphia, on a five-cent fare basis, or
| six tickets for Is cents. demonstra-
/ ton was made for the Highway Com
| mlttee, and the bus was on exhibition In
/ front OF City Hall for two weeks
/ Upon the granting of the franchise
| the United Traction Improvement Com
/ pany promises to start building 12O buses
| and garages for their housing. 1t agrees
| 10 have the three routes in operation In
| one year after that time.
! The chief engineer of the company
points out that the only ordinance OF
/ Councils regulating the operation OF buses
I was passed in 1907, controlling the run
ming OF buses on Broad. West Diamond
/ ana North SD street 10 Dauphin, and
| that its terms are prohlbitve for sue
/ cessful operation with a scent fare. A
| license OF Slo0 a year which it demands
| is said 20 make operation on a scent
fare impossible because OF the small
7 working margin.