St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-02-06
REAL JOY RIDERS IN JITNEY-
MOBILE HAVE GREAT TINE.
Chance for Five Cent Drive in Auto
Attracts Large Crowd.

Sunday may be accepted as cri
terion, the latest wrinkle in trans
Iportation is here to stay. The bust
ness done by the twelve machine:
placed at the disposal of the travel
ing public by the Feitel Jitneymobils
Compony was highly gratifying t.
promoters of the enterprises
much so that the number will be
more than doubled within the week
There is no doubt but that much
of Sundays traffic was of the pleas
ure variety, but in view Of the fac
that Sunday was holiday this does
not detract from the instantaneou:
popularity met met by the jitneys
1t is expected that Monday will show
what a prominent factor the jitneys
are to be in handling passengers go
ing to and returning from work
The Feitel Jitneymobile Company Sc
lected Sunday as the day to begin
operations, SO as to have everything
running smoothly ON the following
day.
The jitneys traversing St. Charles
and Canal streets only stopped at in
tersecting streets to allow passengers
to get off, as there was no room left
when they started on the trip from
the terminus in Canal street. It was
the same way returning to Canal
street. Passengers were waiting ia
get on just as soon as there was
room, and in great many cases
persons took the round trip Just for
the pleasure OF skimming over the
paved streets. AS the system is
whipped into shape, the Feitel Jit-
neymobile Company expects to en-
ploy sufficient number of care to
pick up passengers on the way.
Real Joy Riders"
The term "joy riders" we'll may
be applied to many who rode in the
jitneys Sunday. Although the day
was blustery and somewhat disagree
able for motoring, this did not deter
scores Of men and boys from crowd
ing the automobiles and swelling the
receipts of the new company. Ear
| ly in the morning crowds congregat-
ed in Canal street where the jitneys
started and as fast as the cars come
in, they were able to depart with a
full quota Of passengers. The nov
city of riding in an auto for the small
sum of five cents was an irresistabl
appeal, and the impossibility of OBJ
tanning seats was the only thing that
prevented hundreds from riding in
the jitneys.
1t was not long before the resi-
dents of New Orleans became fami-
liar with the new method of trans
portation. Much curiosity natural
ly was in evidence when the cars
started Sunday morning, but as the
day wore O nthey attracted less
notice. Jitney parties waited on
street corners to board the vehicles,
but 1t soon became evident that
journey to the terminus of the line
would be necessary, if the ride was
to be enjoyed. Before the service
was an hour old it became evident
that the lend seat hog" was on she
job. individuals Of this species
would deposit themselves in the ton
neaus and part with as much as fifty
cents, just for the fun of riding
One passenger boarded a jitney at
Canal and Baronne and handed the
chauffeur dollar bill.
keep the change" he told the
driver, as he was about to hand him
ninety-five cents. Lighting a long
black cigar~he settled himself on the
comfortable seat. AS the jitney COM
menced its journey to Napoleon ave-
nue. the reckless" passenger an
nounced his intention of riding until
his dollar gave out. "This is the
life!" he shouted to those who could
not find seats.
The Jim Grow" law was adhered
to strictly by the jitneymobiles Sun
day. A negro man and his woman
friends attempted to board one of
the cars in upper St. Charles avenue,
but they were informed that there
was no room available
Huh" exclaimed the colored dam
sci to her escort as she observed an
empty seat in the tonneau, ''it's goin
to be long time. befo' us niggahs
rides in motah cabs fob five cents, |
believe me-"
In view Of the fact that some per-
sons made as many as three and four
round trips, it would be hard mat
ter to form an approximate estimate
as to the number of passengers
handled by the jitneymobiles. From
the standpoint of financial returns,
the owners of the cars were more |
than pleased. The jitneys made the
trips as fast as possible, but the in
sufficient number of machines ex-
perimented with the first day, made |
it impossible for the chauffers to stop |
at corners and take on additional
fares. /
President Feitel expects to afford
more accommodations as the service
grows older, and when the motor
buses arrive the routes will be ex-
ended to other streets. For the
present the cars will run from Canal
street to Jackson, Louisiana and Ma
'oleon avenues, going up via Ba-
'onne street and Howard avenue,
Ind returning down st. Charles
street. Other machines are operat-
ID out Canal to the cemeteries, I,
Broad street and Hagan avenue.
The five cent fare for the one way
IT. ~NA - !