Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-06-09

mand for the Jitncy bus. either because
Of the absence of other means Of quick
transportation or bccanse Of !nadegua.
cy OF existing means. The greater
freedom Of action OF the self propelled
vehicle and its ability to operate easily
where II would be difficult for conven-
tionai passenger service 10 he prufita-
BILE are certainly points In its favor
and suggest that street car companies
might make no mistake In adopting
and adapting the jitncy bus as auxii-
larry t. their own service. making II a
feeder to'their own lines especially In
suburban sections. Even In SEINE large
cities foresight In acquiring franchises
covering all possible routes or wisdom
In approaching the same end more al
rectly by the acquisition into one man
agement of many lines has left
stretches OF considerable territory In
which there IL no such public service
In the case OF suburban extension.
where frequently the returns on the
Investment are not proporsionateIy as
great as In the city. In spite OF the rel
atiyeiy higher rate OF fares. there ought
to be abundant opportunities for the
utilization Of the jitney as auxiliary
This brings the thought to wider
range OF use for the self propelled We
hicle in both passenger and freight
service as a feeder 10 steam railroads.
In the south. for instance. there are
83, 500 miles Of railroads, an average
OF something less than one mile for ev-
cry ten square miles Of territory. The
average In New England L. one mile Of
railroad for every seven square miles
Of territory. Since 1880 the south has
built railroad mileage sufficient 10 bring
its total to a greater aggregate length
than the length OF nil the railroads In
the country in that year. For the full
Development Of the south its transpor.
tatton facilities should be made at
least to equal those Of New England,
which would give it about 1874 600 miles
Of railroad. Even with that equipment
there would be vast tracts In the south
without railway facilities, but capable
OF supporting quite dense population
engaged In producing In mining, lum-
berfng and agriculture enormous traf-
&c for transportation companies. The
tnterurban electric lines may be ex-
pected to accelerate the proper settle
ment Of these tracts. but even In that
event the needed facilities will not be
complete and the population win be
obliged to depend. upon country roads.
In the past ten years there has been
notable activity In the south in the
construction Of improved highways,
both trunk lines and laterals. But a
vast amount Of work Of the kind n
stil to be done before there shall be
an adequate system Of public high
ways networking the south. Nothing
probably could give greater impetus
to the completion Of the system tkan
consideration OF the convenience a.
fered by the automobile, the motorbus
and the motortruck to farming com
hunities. for the profitable operation
OF such vehicles demands first class
roads With the roads provided. the
quick and reasonably cheap connection
Of the farmers front gate with the
steam railroad. the linking OF the farm
with Its markets. win be afforded bv
the self propelled vehicle, which al
ready Is doing effective work at many
points where the chance for 1t existz.