The Washington herald., 1921-07-14
DOUBLE-DECK
BUSLINE MAY
OPERATEHERE
Focht Admits Company
Is Ready to Ask for
Franchise.
SEES 1T SOLVING
TRACTION PROBLEM
Firms Action Depends on
Outcome Of Pending
Trolley Hearings.

car problem may come from an en-
tirely unsuspected source. Chairman
Focht, of the House District Com
mittee, intimated yesterday when he
admitted that a large financial cor
portion is keeping In close touch
with the pending street car hear
ings, preparatory to placing a re-
quest before the House District
Committee for a franchise to oper-
ate double-deck motor buses in
Washington corresponding In type
to those used in New York. Detroit,
Chicago and London.
Recent testimony OF the Public
Utilities Commission and officers OF
the traction companies given De-
fore the House District Committee
served to show that the car com
panies can give no more service
during the rush hours, owing to un-
avoidable congestion in busy Sec
tions of the city Additional cars
it has been claimed. would only ag-
gravate this condition by further
congesting the lines. The corpora
tion endesvoring to secure the motor
bus franchise will offer this testi-
mony. IT is understood. as indicative
Of the need for an auxiliary trac-
tion service.
Promise Good Fare.
It was further claimed, according
to Chairman Focht, that by being
permitted to extend their opera
tions to all points in the city, the
new company will agree to charge
a fare satisfactory TO the people.
The number OF vehicles operated
would conform. naturally. to the
ruling of the Public Utilities Com
-cording to Focht. signified its will
ingness and ability to place any
number OF buses in the city imme-
diately after securing the franchise.
The failure of previous bus COM
panies in Washington, is attributa-
BILE to. the conditions under WHICH
they operssted. Focht was; told. p The
new company would operate on a
schedule equally, as satisfactory as
that of the Fifth Avenue Coach
Company of New York and the
Metropolitan Company of London,
which would allow them to COM
pete favorably with the street car
companies, leaving the destiny of
the two different systems in the
hands of the public.
London, IL was pointed out. has
practically no street cars and the
bus system has proved to be not
only a successful traction system
but a treme endous factor in pre-
serving the beauty of the city. The
ability to pick up its passengers
at the curb makes it the ideal city
carrier, it was explained to Focht,
in that 1t reduces the liability OF
accidents and by permitting auto
mobiles to pass while it is discharg-
ing and loading, reduces the con-
gestion, where street cars increase
Il.
street Cars Limited.
Street cars are limited by their
physical construction to certain and
limited areas Of operation. In the
course of time, due to the unantlcl-
pated growth of the city in new
direction. the street car COMPANIES
are compelled to go to great ex-
pense to render service. one street
car cannot pass another break
down of one car necessarily ties up
the whole line.
The operation OF the motor bus
is confined in no way, it was held.
without the expense of tracks, re-
paving and many other items that
are eventually charged up to the
public, the motor bus can be divert
ed instantly to meet any contin-
gency. Its route can be changed
whenever expedient without any eN-
pense to the people.
1t is understood that the bus COM
pany will seek to operate buses
from the Capitol via Pennsylvania
avenue to the Treasury, and from
the Union Station to the Treasury
via G street. otner lines to be added
as fast as possible.
In speaking of the proposed bus
line yesterday, Representative Focht
called attention to the fact that
there are only two other alterna-
tives-En elevated system, which
would at once be rejected as ruin
GUS to the beauty of the city, and
an underground system. impossible
of adoption owing to it stremen-
dous cost
Whether or not Washington is to
have a new traction company in
the near future, Foeht thought
would depend largely on the out
come of the pending hearings.