The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-25
Many Cars Operating Here


 jitney automobiless
 Many Cars Operating Here
 In Birmingham already it is esti- mated there are no less than 10 or i2 different individuals or companies en- gagged in operating automobiles for the purpose of carrying passengers t' and from the residence districts and the number. of ears in service would prob ably reach near half hundred. Lines are in operation on schedules ranging from four to ten minutes between the business section and nearly all CT the suburbs. the fare being nickel each way. No doubt thousands of passengers are carried already in Birmingham eN- cry day by these 5-cent taxicabs or ''jitney autos" as they are moro Ia miliarly known-jitney being in many localities slang name for a 5.cent coin. The effect, it is said, is bound tc be felt by the street car companies, to what extent remains to be seen, for officials of the trolley car concerns yet maintain the automobiles are doing them no harm.
 The successful operation of the Nor wood bus line with a specially made automobile bus demonstrates that that sort of enterprise without doubt has d big future It was admitted at first that this line was not expected to make a profit but was placed in operation by real estate company merely for accommodation of section which had no street car service. The busses. now ever 1t is stated. have. proved highly efficient and successful from Il hnan- cial standpoint and many opinions Save been expressed to the effect that the day of the electric trolley car is fast passing.
 Originated on Pacific Coast
 The iitney auto. it appears, origin ated on the Pacific coast but few months ago, in Los Angeles, San. Fran cisco and neighboring cities It spread rapidly and now is in use in cities in all parts of the country. Following is a news story which appeared in the Chi cago Tribune of recent date:
 san Francisco. January 20.-How se- riously the advent of the jitney auto threatens to affect street railroad com panies in Pacific coast cities in 1915 is shown in estimates compiled here. The jitney men report their minimum av- craze receipts at s1 an hour for an eight day
 .'In the four most populous centers on the coast--the San Francisco bay cities Los Angeles. Portland and Se- attle--the number of cars now in op eration is 2375 and their minimum daily receipts figured on this basis, ag- gregates $1s,000.
 At this rate the jitney cars would take from the traction companies in a year s6,9s5,00O if operated in their only in it's infancy.
 "In San Francisco the number of cars has doubled in the last week. and an organizer of the iitney men has as- sured officials of the Panama Pacific exposition that there will be 20o0 cars to handle exposition crowds on the opening day, February 20. The inva sion has just reached Portland. which now has only 75 jitney cars.
 Kansas City Auto Line
 "Kansas City. Mo, January 2O.-Sev- enteen motor cars. several of which were driven by their owners, entered into competition today with street cars in Kansas City. Mo, and Kansas City, Kan hauling passengers for eare of 5 cents. The cars ran from all parts of the city to a central station in the downtown district One of the cars was driven by woman. The motor car owners declare they are in the .rans- portation business to stay. Most of them reported heavy days business.
 Hits Des M0ines
 "Des Moines, January 20.-Following the failure of the city and the street car company to agree on franchise the movement to establish 'jitney' bus lines Is growing. Already one Is in operation here and more are expected. If the street car company does not get a franchise by March 1t must vacate the streets by order of the supr eme court" Following are dispatches appearing in the Chicago Daily News. under date of January g, the Chicago newspapers in- terest arising from the fact that a move- ment is on foot there for the city to in- vest $S,O00,O00 in municipal owned ''jitney auto lines"
 5000 In Daily Fares
 Houston, Tex. January N.--It is esti- mated that the 5-cent fare automobile in