Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-28
MOTORS TO THE RESCUE
BY Frederic J. Hnskin.


washington, Aug. zs.--if railroad
strikes become much more troupie-
some. tho sams thing may happen In |
this country that has happened IN |
England. Tho motor bus probably VIII |
gain and keep en important place IN
our transportation cystern-
Interurban buses, operating over
short routeA have already proved |
popular with tho committing public, |
ana only temporary collapse OF rail-
road service will see tho bus cornpa-
mics promptly eItend their routes over
long distances In some parts OF tho
Middle West, where the railroads nave
been compelled 10 curtail their passen-
ger service, this has been done re-
Gently. while the National Automobile
Chamber Of Commerce has list OF
93s motor truck lines which are pre-
pared to aid in the event OF trans
portatIon crisis.
IL was just such an emergency, re-
sulting from n prolonged coal strike.
that caused the sudden. rapid spread
Of motor bus travel In England, which
this year is attaining large proportions
Virtually q revolution in tranaporta-
ton methods may be said 20 be now
under way in the Brltiah Isles. EvFy-
where the petrol engine Is challenging
the steam engine, with the result that
tho railroads are beginning TO expert
ence Some Of the apprehension suner-
cd by tho stage coach lines many
years ago. Motoring is no longer mere
| Il, a pleasure enjoyed by those British
ers who can affo~d 10 buy and keep
automobiles II has become a cneap
and convenient means OF travel Tor
| the multitude. as well az a most i'm
portant factor in the movement OF
| freight.
Tho rise Of tho auto bus actually
began. OF course. Immediately after
the war. which had demonstrated the
practically OF transportating large
bodies of men as well ss heavy stores
OF supplies long distances By motor
In the northern and western parts
Of France were great battle areas, re-
mote from railway lines, that could be
reached only on foot or by motor. in
the cities were gathered many rela-
tives Of soldiers and many OF the men
Themselves, who wished 20 visit GER
tain places in the devaHtated areas
The situation called loudly for motos
buses. and - was not long before they
were provided. Several companies were
organized, composed largely OF ex
soldIers. for the purpose Of conduct
ing tourists over the battle fields bJ
motor.
idea Came from France.
Thus the idea Of long distance mo
, tor bus rightseeing was born. From
France It quickly spread tO Engiant
, and IN a short time, we are told, Z
, company had sprupg up which wat
p operating buses upon regular sched
p ules all over Kent. They went as IA
Z South as Dover and Folkstone, as IA
r west as Margate and Ramsgate, AM
= as far east as Maidstone. Buses wer
3 20 populr and the company made -
j much money that others we're inspir
ed 20 start similar tours in other part
] OF the United Kingdom.
This was in 1920. But Il was not IN
D III the spring OF 1921 that the moto
{ bus really came 20 play an importan
part in British transportation Il
r March OF that year the coal rntner7
went out on etr1ke, and tho railroads
never IN an extremely robust condi
= ton, gradually collapsed Not onl,
were they compelled 10 cancel half o
i their usual number OF trains, but a.
> expresses, dining cars and draw1n
/ rooms were taken OF. The servic
became so bad that passengers ofte
were forced TO stand for eight and min
hours at a time. In these circun
stances. il did not take the bus com
rnlf
en- opportunity was at hand. Imned
n ately they began 20 advertise IN
greater convenience and comfort
"a motor travel, and TO extend their toul
n in all directions until II was possib
for a passenger 10 travel into ar
part of England, Scotland, or Wal'
in one OF their vehicles.
They also established an excellel
baggage service, the absence Of wniC
!. had hitherto been a considerab
= drawback TO motor bus travel. Thc
- advertised that they would allow evel
: passenger on their cars who bougl
a return ticket a certain amount
: baggage carried free-usually abo
the same amount that could be ca
ried on a railway ticket. This ba
=, gage had to be delivered at the cor
a. pany's Offices an hour before star
- ing time. There Il WAS loaded on
- truck and sent ahead OF the passe
: ger bus. so that when the passenge
= arrived at their destinations tn
49, found their baggage awaiting them.
AS the coal strike continued al
- the railroads grew less and less eff
:" Client, the popularity OF the bus
u grew. 1t was greatly increased, NOR
70 over, by reduction IN bus fares u
Z I'll they were slightly below the frs
class fares on the railroads. AS a r
suit, the bus lines were swaunped Wi
more business than they could hand
while toward the end OF the stril
scarcely anyone was using the ra
roads except in cases OF absolute n
cessity when they could not get
bus.
Popularity Appears Permanent
The disconcerting feature from {
railroads standpoint, is that this po
ularity appears to be permanent. T
railroads, now back TO their norm
service and schedules. have not I
captured all OF their old busine
Wherever possible. the people seer
ingly prefer TO use the char-a- bar
which is the French term the Engli
have given the NOTORIOUS.
This is especially true of hold
travellers and tourists, who find 1t me
enjoyable along the open road. pc
fresh. rustic scenery, than over {
prosaic, level grade taken by the ra
roads. Seen from the char-a bal