Evening star., 1922-10-15

are of limited means. American cars
are being used in the motor bus service.
Melbourne. Australia has also
adopted the motor busses. SIMILAR to
those used in London, according to
Consul General Thomas Sammons.
This action was taken on account Of
the congested condition of traffic in
the central section OF the city. In
view of the excellence of the Mel
bourne tramway system the proposed
motor bus service will not reach its
real possibilities until the city has
grown to a population OF 100000
where now the population is nearly
100000. This means that the Ameri-
bourne as a promising market in a
few years.
X X 4 X
Consul Charles E. Allen. in a report
to the Department of Commerce. dis
cusses motor buses versus railways in
Damascus. Syria. He shows that bus
transportation in the Damascus region
has increased very much in importance
during the past six months. Three COM
panies are now operating on the route
from Damascus to Beirut, over which
the bulk Of traffic Is moved. AS re-
suit Of the ruinous competition the rail-
way company inaugurated a motor bus
service of it's own. This company. Con-
sui Allen says. is operating several
ether motor bus lines in Syria, and the
public is getting the benefit Of large
scale operations.
London. Canada, street railways. Consul
q. r Taggart reports. The fares
charged by the street railways in Lon
don. Canada, until the spring OF 1922
were regarded as lower than elsewhere
in Canada or the United States. The
| bus rates are somewhat lower than
! those OF the street railways. although
they pay the city license fee of $500
for each bus and are compelled to take
out liability insurance to cover pay
nent Of damages to persons or property.
While the busses are now making money,
1t is pointed out that profits will be re-
duced approximately 81 day for each
| 1000 value in the bus, by the cost Of
| increased repairs and depreciation as
| the vehicles grow older.
| The advocates Of bus transportation
claim the following advantages for
motor buses:
Passengers are in less danger of being
run down by the regular street traffic
| because the buses stop at the curb.
Street congestion is relieved because no
! traffic Is held up while the passengers
are getting on and off. The busses can
be used successfully during fires,
parades, breakdowns and other street
OloCkaQeS ny uiSclliHB lAo ioutc Aux
| short distances.
4; ~ = Il
| The noise Of fiat steel wheels is elm
mated. Another advantage which would
not be noted in Washington. but which
is Of considerable importance almos,
everywhere else, is that network OF
wires on main streets. as we'll as costly
track extensions, are not necessary for
! buses. Electric storms, higg winds
power house troubles, etc, do not affect
| busses as much as street cars, 1t Is
| claimed.
Buses can give shortcut service be.
tween factory and residential districts
! ing. the transfer Of large masses OF
rush hour riders at downtown transfer
points. They can give immediate serv-
| Ice on new lines when there is a demand
| therefor, thus showing quickly whether
" discontinue this new route IL It IL
found Improbable. They can give fast
service with extra busses at rush hours
| by eliminating stops at important stree,
| intersections. They need not run empty
over a long distance, because switch.
backs can be arranged to meet unusual
requirements of traffic.
| Buses do not harm the streets notice.
ably. 1t is claimed, because the traffic
is distributed over the entire surface
Of the pavement, while the street cal
| roadbed is constantly out Of repair. The
constant drain on hydroelectric powell
| resources for street car operation Il
eliminated when buBseS are uaAd