The Washington herald., 1919-11-16
MOTOR BUS WILL HELP SOLVE
IPROBLEM OF TRANSPORTATION
Efficiency and Economy of Operation Are ir
Favor of Auto Lines, Says R. E. Fulton,
< OF international Motor Company

! such q line does not prove profitable,
1t cannot be diverted. The fexibility
Of the motor bus system, however,
does not confine II to any one fixed
route.
Investors Losing Faith.
Public utility corporations every
where are gradually losing the faith
Of Investors. Their inability to in
crease fares to keep up with increas-
ing costs Of operation considerably de-
creases their dividends. In view Of
this, it Is becoming Increasingly DIFF
ficuit to find investors who will lend
the money to build and equip new
traction lines, while far better induce
ments are offered in other securities.
Efficiency and economy Of operation
are in favor OF the motor bus. This
has been proved in New York City
by the success of motor bus lines
established to take the place Of trac-
ton lines that could not pay for them
selves. Then, too. When Brooklyn
traction companies raised their fares
and people refused to pay the ad-
vance, a fleet of motor busses solved
the problem by taking the Brooklyn
ties to their places OF business. They
not only were able to operate profit
ably on the lower fare basis, but
proved to be quicker and far more
comfortable than the trolley lines.
These economies are principally due
to the fact that the tremendous over
head expenses of the surface car lines
are eliminated in the operation OF
motor busses. The bus Is its own
power plant and it consumes power
only when in operation. Since II Is
speedier than the surface car, a bus
can make more trips per day. thereby
increasing the revenue per unit Of
expenditure.
Offer Many Convenfenees.
Motor bus routes offer many con-
| veniences that cannot be offered by
traction lines. Another point-they
unload passengers at the curb which
| is much safer. In case of block
ade. a bus can detour. This fact
| alone works as a benefit in two
ways-it makes a more dependable
| transportation system and tends to
] relieve the congestion incidental to
blockades. Not being confined to
/ tracks, busses can receive and dis
| charge passengers nearer to their
| homes. Then, too. we have the OBJ
yious fact that people would rather
| ride IN motor bus not only be-
cause of its conveniences but be-
! cause of the suggestion 1t conveys
OF pleasurable outdoors.
A movement that had its incep-
tion in California and that is grad
ually spreading to other parts Of
/ the country is the use of motor
busses to provide better educational
| facilities. BY the consolidation of
( rural schools and the use of busses
| to carry the pupils to and from
them. a more complete curriculum
| Is offered to the children in rural
| districts. This is but. one instance
/ of the adaptability of the bus in the
| development of sparsely populated
sections. Where a traction system
is needed, but is too costly to be
| profitable. the economical motor bus
can be relied upon to fill the need.
There are seasonable needs for
| transportation service that. can only
be filled by the motor bus. Summer
resorts, for instance. often cannot
| support a surface car line the year
| through, while the bus can be di-