The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-03-20
VTNEY SWEEPS COUNTRY
Au,omobile interests Find Out
let for Old Machines and Are
Assisting New Industry

Nothing in recent years has quite
On affected the automobile business
with a great influence on the future
as the iitney bus movement, which
Is now sweeping across the continent
with startling rapidity and has al
ready inundated most of the large
cities west of the Allegheny Noun
tains.
Starting on the Pacific Coast, the
thing has proved tremendously popu-
lar. 1t is easy for any one to buy
second hand automobile, so modify its
body as to increase the passenger
capacity, stick a sign on it and begin
taking passengers quickly and easily
to their destinations. The affairs
have proved so popular that the
street railways of the West are alarm
ed and have commenced campaigns
of licensing and restriction by or
dinance and statutes to stem the tide
of competition. In some places they
have accomplished something, but
'the many desirable features of the
service usually give the buses so
much patronage in the course of a
day as to prevent even ordinarily
severe licensing from stopping the
scheme.
From the standpoint of the auto
mobile manufacturer and dealer, il
is blessing in disguise. because it
points new way to make use of and
use up the old machines taken in
trade, and goes long way to solve
the used car problem. With so large
an outlet for old cars. there is an OPP
portunity for selling new cars and
some manufacturers are boosting the
idea vigorously. Henry Ford recent
ly made an offer to Chicago for put
ting on a jitney service of new cars,
fitted with special bodies, and it is
probable that other manufacturers
will act similarly.
John N. WHY'S is one of the lead
ing enthusiasts among the manufac-
turers for aiding the jitney idea. He
is of the opinion that manufacturers
of moderate price cars may soon be
turning their attention to the pro-
duction of a special type of automo-
bile that will serve better for the
types now used for jitney purposes.
The tremendous political infu-
ences exerted by the electric street
railway interests" he says, may
succeed for a short period ef time
in retarding the sudden and great
development of the automobile trans
portation known as the jitney bus,
but it will never be able to suppress
the new and popular means of loco
motion.
The public in this country is just
awakening to the possibilities and
advantages of motor transportation.
In London the fight between the
motor bus and electric street car has
been fought out, with the bus the
victor, and conditions here are in a
way much more favorable for the
Jitney bus than for the London motor
bus over there. 1t is true that a |
great protest has gone up from the
element which heretofore has prac-
tically monopolized these rural dis
tricts to the exclusion of the common
herd; but the authorities have been
true to the motto. The greatest
good for the greatest number
But the important point which
promises cheap and satisfactory
transportion to the American public
is the wonderful strides which have
been made in this country in the
construction of good, serviceable |
automobiles at only about half the
price at which they can be produced |
abroad. This means more to the
jitney business than might at first
be supposed, when one thinks only
of first cost or the original invest
ment carried as a fixed charge"