Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-11-30
THE TRACTION PROBLEM.

THE
one of the greatest municipal problems will
b. the solution of the street railway puzzle
large part OF the street railways of this
country is inadequate to serve the needs OF the
ueople. Many have long since practically ceased
to make extensions or improvements. Nearly
every city has had from one to many fare IN
creases.
The street railway played a tremendous part in
the development of American cities. Electric
lines into outlying sections and sparsely settled
suburbs served to develop beautiful residence
areas. to lessen congestion and its attendant evils
and 10 make possible the development of great
plants in well-defned industrial sections
Failure Of the street railways to continue
these extensions and to maintain adequate SER
vice even for existing needs menaces the CROWN
of many cities, threatens congestion toward the
downtown centers and brings annoyance ana
discomfort both to passengers and to business.
To add to the problem the jitney bus has
come in to compete with the trolley and the
competition has become so keen that 1t is now
declared that one or the other has got to go
out of business. Here in New Jersey the Public
Service Corporation, which controls practically
all Of the important trolley lines in the state. is
preparinr to go to the mat with the jitney at
the next session of the legislature
aght will be made to practically legislate
The jitney out of business. Failing in that. It
Il proposed to enact law whereby the jitney
owners will have to work under franchises and
be taxed accordingly. also bear a proporttonate
share Of the upkeep of the streets and high
ways which the buses now use freely upon the
payment of a nominal license fee.
-.--xtz- kk.t <hA s;tnaua have n
decided advantage at the present time. Their
invested capital is comparatively little and their
operating expenses are slight. Aside from the
automobile license and a small percentage OF
the daily fares paid to the city. the salary Of a
chauffeur and the upkeep of = bus there is no
expense involved.
On the other hand. the trolley company has
it's vast capitalization invested in enormous
bower houses, dynamos. boilers and engines
Hundreds of miles Of wires and tracks. thous-
ands OF cars. repair outfits and car-barns. Then
TOO. there are the thousands of employees to keep
the great system in operation.
In addition to all this expense, the trolley
company is taxed heavily not only on all this
equipment. but 1t pays a tax on the franchise
it holds for the privilege Of using the streets.
Besides 1t must pave and keep in repair that part
Of the street which its tracks occupy and for
two feet each side Of its tracks.
When 1t Is realized that the only source of in
come the trolley company has to meet all this
expense. not to mention a fair profit above
expenses that every legitimate business is entitl-
ed to is the fares received from the people travel
ing on the trolley cars, we can see how unfair
the present competition of the jitney is.
We are we'll aware Of the shortcomings of
the trolley companies. For their present UNI
popularity they have only themselves to blame.
II they had been a little more solicitous Of the
public in the past and not so ~grasping and arbi-
trary in their dealings with municipalities, CIV
ing the service that was to be expected of
them. it is doubtful If the jitney competition
would ever have amounted to anything.
However, the problem is here and 1t has goi
to be faced. While there Is much to be said
Cor the jitney bus II properly regulated. it Is
a fact that when compelled to choose between
one or the other the public have shown a de-
cided preference for the trolley.
We have in mind the sad experience on Staten
Island where the trolley company was forced
out of business because it was not permitted tc
increase the are. Buses were put on the var
ious routes to take care of the traffic. but they
ldlieu HiScidDiys IHc ucHidiio " Nv icesoia
ton of the trolleys became SO great that thu
city of New York will inaugurate on Wednesda,
of this week. its first street railway operated
solely by the municipality. just as the municipa
ferries ara run. The New York Board Of Esti
mate has appropriated a large sum of money t.
buy the cars and an additional sum has jus
been provided for operating expenses. The far
is to be continued at five cents.
The experiment will be watched closely
Private enterprise failed to make a success o
the Staten Island trolley system under q Nv
cent fare. If the city succeeds where private
capital failed, perhaps a solution for the Traction
ills Of the country may be found.
One thing is certain. something must be don
TO solve this great problem. This is one of tn
most fertile fields in existance for progressiv
and thoughtful study and work on the part o
public oficisls and patriotic citizens.
TOYS.