Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-09-26
Statement of the Tulsa Street Railway
to the Public

ing stock, the building NJ double track. or the ex-
tension of your lines. You are bound by the earn
ings you make. We have had this question up
with the city commission for the past two years
say this in all good spirit because you have heard
very few complaints from me on the jitney business
l appeared before the Commission once and eX-
pressed my Views, and since then have never
bothered you. l have always claimed from the time
the jtneys started here. and In other cities hat the
jitney business was an economic proposition which
either that the operators Of the jitney cars them
selves would be brought TO see II was not paying
proposition that the city would that their un-
restricted operation was hindrance to the develop
of their street railway system and would stop
them. But for years and eight months we have
been bothered with jitney competition. DO you
know what IL means to us? Let me tell you you
will have II on record when you talk about double
tracking and the purchase of n lot OF new cars at
$4,000 apiece with all the paving birden the taxa
tion and the extension Of new lines that must be
developed and that will not pay took a statement
from books OF the days preceding that period in
October and November of last year when. after the
passage OF your ordinance the jitney cars stopped
operating for about eighteen days. took the re-
cepts OF the eighteen days previous to the time
they stopped and of the eighteen days during which
they did not operate at all Our receipts increased
a daily average OF s141.65. which is s51,702
year. Unrestricted jitney competition is certainly
not developing agency
I'VE have on Main street line an eight minute
service We have a seven and one half minute SER
vice from Third and Main to yorktown
east Now will venture the assertion with pos
siby the execution of one or two lines in Oklahoma
City will say that line has any eight minute
service The great hindrance to our maintaining
schedules in the City of Tulsa is railroad crossings
every line have the Frisco, Midland Val
ley Katy railroad. We have been delayed
long thirty minutes and more at the railroad
crossings The longest schedule we have is 10 min
ues the Oklahoma Union Railway company still
operates a 80 minute schedule Oklahoma City
has several lines operating thirty minute service,
and maintain now that we operate closer sched
ue in the City Tulsa than any city in the State of
Oklahoma. However, when we complete the neces-
sary double trackage out east going to put
five minute service the Yorktown line from Third
and Main to Yorktown, and as soon as we can ex-
tend the double tracking on Cameron and North
the Main street line We have ordered new lay
out for the corner Of Third and Main which will be
here in about three months: that will be double
track crossing both ways east to west and north to
south. and double track curves from the east into
the south that coming from the east will
turn that south ipto Main to Fifth street and
west Fifth street and cars will then not turn
back from Third and Main but will operate
through lines town. BY reason of the pres
ent layout there being a single track curve from
Third into Main street. there was Interference be-
tween the cars making that curve on account OF
the coming from South Main street. and that
will be corrected by double track layout which
has been ordered.
I'VE believe that the extension Pearl street
ought to be made right away. There is a section
of the city which has traffic at all. there is
section of the city which will be built with small
cheap renting houses IL IL had street railway traffic
There is only one way TO get into that section the
city and that Pearl The railroad trackage
is in such condition between Main street and Pearl
that there is absolutely way to get there
from the Main street line from the Third street
line into that section, and the only way is by Pearl
street. Now there is where a lot OF cheap homes
can De pullt ana cheap rents gwen II that hhe IN
given We are enJoined on account OF the narrow
ness OF the subway We would be perfectly willing
TO go ahead right and construct that line
originally outlined going through the subway and
then enter into n contract with the Frisco Rail-
way company TO extend that subway, standing
tho expense. consulted the Frisco Railway official
here today to how long II will VI before the sub
way can be enlarged He could give no answer at
all; he says they haven't workmen enough to take
care OF their regular work. / have an idea II would
be two or three years before they would. reach II
and do anything to II and they will not permit
bod o O themselves.
we are held from making that extension until that
subway be enlarged, 1t means two or more
years Now, II you will let us make that extension
we will build.a line through the subway, and I
satisfied If put double track in the subway
we will put that in there and when we can get the
subway enlarged. will take that track up and
put It in the enlarged subway. And the cars would
always be running in the line of traffic There
would be absolutely friction danger. We
would be as much concerned as anybody that there
should not be-"
Respectfully,