Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-11-23
BY r. E. FULTON

are becoming more ana more mad
equate to handle the congestion that
amount of traffic they will hold is linn
tied by the tracks on which they run,
it will be impossible for them to keep
up with the growing needs of trans
portation unless new tracks are laid.
This, however, is prohibited by the in
creasing congestion of privately owned
Vehicles on the highways. Increasing
Population on the one hand demands
more public transportation facilities.
The increasing number of privately
owned passenger and commercial We
hlcles' on the other hand demands bet
Ter highway facilities. Can one factor
be satisfied except at the expense of
the other?
TO RELIEVE CONGESTION
The present serious financial condi-
ton of thes public utility corporations
throughout the country is bound to
mean increased fares, and the burdens
imposed upon them by increasing pop
ulation Is bound to mean more and
more congestion, The motor bus will
not only solve the. serious traffic prob
lem, but will provide the public with
a more flexible Satisfactory mode of
transportation at a lower cost.
In the majority of large cities 1t is
out of the question to lay more tracks
for surface car lines in thicl<ly pop
Llated business and residential Sec
tions-there is no room for them. In
view ofthis fact it is only logical to
assume that motor busses will be used
to relieve the congestion, as they are
free TO operate on any route without
tracks And it is very possible that
the time will come when traffic will
have increased to such an extent that
the streets will seem unable to mold it.
In, Nltr N1,,ft z.. All
be the discentinuance of surface car
lines and the substitution of motor
tusses. This for the simple reason
that buses do not block the highways,
being flexible and able to move about
in traffic. Surface cars, on the other
hand, do block traffic-this fact can
not be denied.
tions are concerned, there is every rea-
son to believe that future developme emit
of transportation facilities Will favor
the motor bus. The laying of tracks
for surface car line represents q
huge initial expense for right of way,
bridges, grading and rails. If such a
line does not prove profitable, 1t can
not be diverted. The flexibility of the
motor bus system, however, does not
confine It 40 any one fixed route.
FOR ECONOMY
TuullC utility COrpOrdllOHS every
where are gradually losing the faith of
Investors. Their inability to increase
fares to keep up with the rising costs
of operation considerably decrease the
dividends. In view of this, 1t is be-
coming more difficult to find investors
who will lend the money to build and
equip new traction lines. while far bet
ter inducements are offered in other
securities.
Efficiency and economy of operation
ere in favor of the motor bus. This has
leen proved in New York City by the
success of motor bus lines established
t. take the place of traction lines that
could not pay for themselves. Then too
when Brooklyn traction companies
raised their fares and people refused
to pay the advance, fleet of motor
buses solved the problem by taking
Brooklynites to their places of bust :
ness. They not only We're able to OPP
crate profitably on the lower fare bas-
is, but proved to be quicker and far
more comfortable than the trolley lines
These economics are principally due
to the fact that the tremendous over
head expenses of the surface car lines
are eliminated in the operation of mo-
tor buses. The bus is its own power
plant and it consumes power only In
operation Since it Is speedier than a
surface car, bus can make more trips
Ter DAY, tnereDy increasing tne revenue
per unit of expenditure.
MANY CONVENIENCE
Motor bus routes offer many con-
veniences that cannot be offered by
traction lines. ANOTHER point-they
is much safer. In case of a blockade
a bus can detour This fact alone
works as a benefit in two Ways-i
makes a more dependable transporta-
ton system and tends to relieve the
congestion incidental to blockades. No
being confined to tracks, busses car
receive and discharge passengers near
er to their homes. Then too, we hav'
the obvious fact that people who rid
in a motor bus not only because of IT.
conveniences but because of the sug
gestion 1t conveys of pleasurable out
doors.
A movement that had its inception
in California and that Is gradual!
spreading to other parts of the coun
try is the use of motor buses to pro
vide better educational facilities. b.
the consolidation of rural schools ant
the use of buses to carry the pupils
70 and from them, more complies
curriculum is offered to the children IL
rural districts. This is but one in
stance of the adaptability of the bu
in the developm ~ of sparsely pop
ulated sections. Where traction sys
tenn is needed, but is too costly to b.
profitable, the economical motor bu
can be relied upon to fill the need.
9oLvING LABOR PROBLEMS
There are seasonable needs for trans
uortation service that can only be fillet
by the motor bus. Summer resorts
for instance, often can not support ;
surface car Hne the year through. Will,
the bus can be diverted to other chan
snn1a o1rf NJ the busy season.
The motor bus IL also . big factol