Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-06-10
Problem of the Jitney
Boston Transcript

MO ONE read the monthly reports OF street rail-
IN way companies operating in cities where jitney
competition pre,ails without perceiving an arnaz-
ing decrease In earnings. compared with the corre
spending portion OF the preceding year. Many
that the question restricted TO the
street railways and jtneys. and touches the rest OF
the community only II furnishes additional
transportation facility. This attitude indicates
utter failure to comprehend the part which street
railways have played in the development Of cities.
IL has been the duty OF public service transportation
company. at the request OF the public TO extend its
lines from time 20 time into outlying districts. whers
the dearth OF population promises nothing but loss,
In many cases for long period. The law. however,
has generally recognized that IL the service a
whole yields fair return the investment Il Is not
unreasonable TO require extensions Improbable in
themselves provided excessive rates in other
lions Of the community are not established
tained to produce the fair This process has
ereatly accelerated the enhancement of property
values, all real estate interests and retailers win
attest II the street railways OF unreguiated
jney competition. should feel obliged 20 remove
some Of these Improbable lines. condition and not
theory would confront not only the public who ride.
but all interested in the prosperity OF the
munty.
The receipts Of the great majority OF city railways
secured under the fat-rate system establishing
a uniform fare the city at large without neces-
sariy being restricted by the city limits. The
system, taking OF additional fare whenever a
certain geographical limit is passed has seldom met
with popular favor in this country Under the flat
rate method the margin OF profit for the is
at It's maximum In the crowded sections. and should
outweigh the losses suffered by the company in the
thnly population districts 1t be said. therefore,
that the heart OF the city encompasses the vitss OF
the street rawaythe particular spot chosen by the
ttneys for attack.
As the number Of available passengers is practically
fixed whatever business is acquired by the jltneys
means corresponding loss 10 the railways. A
slant drain OF sap from the trunk OF tree win
the brances TO die. In like the remote lines
OF the street railway will be the first to 60 Il
cannot a whole be forced operate loss, and
will therefore try TO retrench in the easiest way
VIII the jitney assume the burden thus laid down.
All the evidence bearing this point suggests
emphatic negative. In the first place unlike a sue
cessful street railway. It cannot be forced do So
and secondly the losses from operation In the outy
ing districts under the ordinary street railway fare
would make IL pronbitive. The very material reduc-
ton In property values by the of the street
railway lines. and the failure OF the jitney to
valid subst tute would not only be felt In particu
lar district but through the whole city whose
is intimately connected with the Of trans
portRtion system.
What Is the remedy? Obviously a community
cannot afford TO suffer great depreciation in property
values by allowing it's transportation system to be
crippled. II the Jtney in position to
tho whole field the might be different. The
form of conveyance and 1t is high time all cities
where the competition prevails to realize the issues
at stake and be prepared TO meet the situation with
appropriate legislation, not to inJure the ney but
TO protect the community against the unfortunate re-
suits of unregulated competition Under the regime
Of competing street railways the past has shown the
public to be the ultimate sufferer should therefore
be unnecessary for each city. like child that fails
to profit by the instruction It's elders 10 undergo
the same unhappy experience.