The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-24


railroad strikes become much more
troublesome. the same thing may
happen In this country Mat has
happened in England. The motor
bus probably will gain and keep an
important place in our transporta-
ton system.
Interurban buses, operating over
short routes, have already proved
popular with the committing pub
lie, and only a temporary collapse
OF railroad service will see the bus
companies promptly extend their
routes over long distances. In
some parts of the middle west,
where the railroads have been COM
PEELED to curtail their passenger
service, this has been done recent
ly, while the National Automobile
Chamber OF Commerce has . list OF
936 \potor truck lines which are
prepared to aid in the event 81 q
transportation crisis.
1T was just such an emergency,
resulting from "a prolonged coal
strike, that caused the sudden, rap
i'd spread of motor bus travel in
England. which this year Is attain
ing large proportions. Virtually a
revolution in transportation meth
DDS may be said to be now under
way in the British Isles. Every
where the petrol engine Is chal-
longing the steam engine, with the
result that the railroads are begin
ming to experience some of the ap-
prehension suffered by the stage
coach lines many years ago. Motor
ing is no longer merely a pleasure
enjoyed by those Britishers who
can afford to buy and keep automo-
biles. It has become cheap and
convenient means Of travel for the
as we'll as a most impor-
tant factor in the movement OF
freight.
The rise of the auto bus actual
ly began, OF course, Immediately
after the war, which had demon
strated the practically of trans
porting large bodies of men as well
as heavy stores of supplies long
distances by motor. In the north
ern and western parts of France
were great battle areas, remote
from railway lines, that could be
reached only on foot or by motor.
In the cities were gathered many
relatives of soldiers md many of
the men themselves, who wished to
visit certain places-in the devasta-
ted areas. The situation called
loudly for motor buses, and it was
not long before they were provid-
ed. Several companies were organ
lied, composed largely of ex-sol-
diers, for the purpose of conduct
ing tourists over the battle fields by
motor.
Idea Came From France.
Thus the idea of long distance
motor bus sightseeing was born.
From France 1t quickly spread to
England and in a short time, we
are told, a company had sprung
up which was operating buses upon
regular schedules all over Kent.
They went as far south as Dover
and Folkstone, as far west as Mar
gate and Ramsgate, and as far east
as Maidstone. The buses were so
popular and the company made so
much money that others were in
sNred to start similar tours in 9TH
er parts Of the United Kingdom.
This was in 1920. But it was not
until the spring of 1921 that the
motor bus really came to play an
important part in British transpor-
tation. In March of that year the
coal miners went out on strike, and
the railroads, never in an extreme
ly robust condition, gradually col
lapsed. Not only were they COM
PEELED to cancel half of their usual
number of trains, but all expresses,
dining cars and drawing rooms
were taken OFF. The service be-
came SO bad that passengers often
were forced to stand for eight and
nine hours at time. In these cir
cumstances. it did not take the bus
companies long to realize that their
golden opportunity was at hand.
Immediately they began to adver-
tise the greater convenience and
comfort OF motor travel. and to ex-
tend their tours in all directions
until it was possible for a passen-
ger to travel into any part of Eng
land, Scotland or Wales in one Of
their vehicles.
They also established an excel
lent baggage service. the absence
of which had hitherto been a con-
siderable. drawback to motor bus
travel. They advertised that they
would allow every passenger on