The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-23
HIGH WAVE OF J|TNEY
MOVEMENT GOT CITY
Demands Met By Jitney Must Be Con-
sidered BY Street Railway And
City Oflciai.
FUTURE HERE is UNCERTAIN.
Whether Virginia Railway and Power
Company VIII Operate All Jitneys
Now In Service Depends on City
Authorftics--Indepen Side.

Replying to an inquiry as to a
purchase Of 100 motor cars
to be operated as Jitneys. c. b
Buchan general manager of the
Virginia Railway and Power Company
writes to the Manufactures
Record:
Up to dat we have purchased
thirty odd Briscoe cars and sever
al Ford cars, and are operating
the jitneys. The routes upon
which these cars are operating
are parallel to the car lines. out
generally two blocks off. running
into the business streets, upon
which the car lines are operated.
We ere not giving transfer TO the
street cars, and IL is not our inten-
ton to do so. These jitneys are
running at a maximum of two
miles, and we have only been
operating them for a short time;
therefore. IL Is impossible for US
TO give the best service. Since we
have installed this line OF jitneys
a great many OF the independents
have discontinued operation. The
city authorities now have the mat
ter of considering regulation. ana
il depends entirely on this action
as TO whether we will discontinue
the service on the number Of 5it-
news that we are now operating.
Richmond was caught suddenly on
the high wave of the jitney movement
In this country. says the Record.
Probably no other city OF its size mad
"a MANY jitneys operating in its streets
The entrance into the titney field by
the Virginia Railway and Power Com
nanv is one of the notable manifesto
tons of the movement and leads to
which may be of service
alike TO street car companies and jit-
ney promoters.
Street Railways Problem.
Aside from the fact that novelty and
the opportunity to enjoy at small cost
a ride in an automob lie accounts In
part for the popularity of the 5itney
the patronage given It wherever It has
appeared has a broader and more per-
manent basis The 5itney undoubtedly
meets perfectly legitimate and natural
either for greater con-
venience or for greater speed in local
travel. These demands must be given
due weight by managements OF street
and by municipal authorities
In reaching a Just solution of the prob.
lens created by the appearance OF the
jitney. II is for the street-railway com.
panies to take the hint and where
possible to meet the demands. either
m Improving their service with existins
means or adopting the jitney as ar
auxiliary. Paralleiing of the two ser.
ii In nh al
in competition, means waste for which
the public must pay n the end. But
there Is hardly a city in the country
which is Ideally equipped for passenger
service and In most cities are consider.
able areas not touched by the street
car lines, but capable OF furnishing
profitable patronage to motor-vehicis
service operated Independently or as q
feeder to the stree railways.
Authorities Must Watch Revenues
Where their charters permit II '. on q
seem to be wise for the street railwa,
to place jitneys in such areas. I'm cases
where the hauls would be short in com
parison with that of the normal one.
fare haul in the city, charging the full
fare. with transfer to the street-cal
lines or a smaller fare where no trans
fer liz desired II is for the proper
authorities 10 make II certain that M
franchise for which existing corpora
lions have paid or are paying none.
to the city shall be voided by jitne,
For instance. the street-car corpo
ration in one large city of the countr,
Is compelled TO pay nine per cent O
its gross earnings into the city treasur.
for the support OF the public parks
and the importance of this tax Is in
dicated in the fact that In fifty year,
practically all the parks OF the city
aggregating about $500 acres. hav,
been purchased and maintained b,
the more than $4,000. 900 accruint
from the tax. 1t is obvious that TO
the protection Of the city itself II
its far-sighted public parl
policy and in justice to the street rail
way corporation any agency under
taking to enjoy privileges the sam,
as those of the street-car compan.
shall be compelled to bear the sans
in the matter OF taxa
tion. The question of financial respon
sibility In relation to patrons or Il
other users of the streets Ia also al
important one and must be settled
right.
OF course. the authorittes canno
permit popular clamor to influence
them in determining the permanent
course of conduct toward the innova
tons by special pleadings on the par
OF the corporations based upon any
thing but equity and the public wei
fare.
1t would be we'll for everybody t,
recognize that the jitney service IL
one form or another Is here to stay
that II Is subject to regulation just al
any other public service. that attempts
to suppress II may have, the effects ex
actly contrary to expectation. and tina
older services as to be profitable Il
itself and to them.
=
saloons Must Go.