Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-02-23


fair minded person. Conditions cannot so on
as they are. Just what is to be done Is the
problem to be solved. OF course. the Public
Service would like to have the jitneys iegisla-
ted out of business. AS the next best thing
they want the buses routed on different streets
from those on which the trolleys run so that
there will not be such direct competition. But
as the trolleys already operate on practically
all the principal streets of the various munich
palities such a ruling would drive the buses
70 the side streets to which they naturally OBJ
Ject
1t Is also desired that the buses be placed
under the control of the State Public Utility
Commission and submit to the same reg
~ulations that the trolleys are subjected to.
There is ressonableness in this demand.
But when all is said and done competition
between the trolley and the buses must still be
met As far as the buses are concerned. they
are only in their infancy. The trolley. on the
ether hand. has about reached the limit of
It's development. There are wonderful posi-
bilitiss in the development OF the buses. Prop
erly constructed and properly operated they
have much to recommend them over the slow,
noisy, expensive trolley car.
WINE tue aDdlQpNilenl VI eAS liOiiSy W. Aa'SA
of the bus might seem like an awful loss at the
outset. yet even such enormous investments
as the trolleys represent cannot be permitted
TO stand in the way OF progress. Would 1t not
be better for the Public Service. instead OF
trying to kill off the ji.ney. 10 attempt to meet
it on its own ground and pan to substitute
new, modern buses for the trolley as now OPP
This might be tried out on such lines
as those operating through this section of the
state. at any rate. With city streets and the
main country highways well paved and with
county and municipal authorities thoroughly
equipped not only to keep these Placements
in repair. but to keep highways open at all times
why should the trolley company try to main
and keep open a right of way of its own?
Large, modern buses. low built, with seats fac
:ng the front, kept clean and operated by COM
petent chauffeurs would be a decided improve
ment over the trolley cars as now operated
over the lines OF central New Jersey.
Take the ride from this city to New Bruins
wick. for instance, or to South Amboy. to Wood
md comfortably the trip could be made in one
II the latest model buses than in the present
loisy, jolting trolley cars.
For the Jersey central ITdCtloh company
between this city and South Amboy,
and Highlands, the modern bus ought
O be a decided improvement over the present
rolley system not only from a financial point
# view. but from the standpoint of service
or the patrons as well.
But the bus that would be submitted for
he trolley car would have to be far different
rom the present ratletrap, insanitary jitney.
low in operation in this section.
This Is a matter that the various trolley
ought to seriously consider. In
titles like Newark and Paterson where traffic
5 so heavy, the ultimate solution seems to be
high subways with no tracks on the
service whatever, the modern bus being
ised exclusively on the surface.
Instead OF trying to discourage the bus and
Under it. the right policy would be to adopt
t and improve it just as the up-to-date bust
ess man or manufacturer seizes upon every new
INVENTION or piece of machinery that may tend
o modernize his plant. 1t may cost him a
OF Of money TO throw out the old and put In
he new, but he finds that it pays in the long
un.
,oing to become more and more popular every
ear. Because It has no right of way or track
0 maintain. no street paving to keep in repair,
equires no wires or poles or powerhouse, 1t
5 going TO have more and more advantage
ver the trolley. Why not face the real issue
/ once, instead OF waiting for the inevitable?