San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-28
SAYS BUS AND
TROLLEY MEET
TRAFFIC NEEDS
MACE. Manager Sug-
yests Union Of Tran
sit Units.
A SEAT FOR EVERYONE
Reeves Points Out Advan-
tages Of Such an
Alliance.
A SEAT FOR EVERYONE

America, was the solution of the urban
problem suggested by Alfred Reeves,
general manager of the National Auto
mobile Chamber of Commerce speak
ing before the American Electric Rail-
way Association at Atlantic City.
Pointing out that each forward step
in transportation has brought with it
necessary adjustments, Mr.. Reeves en-
phasized the need for meeting the SER
vice reQuirments of the public. In his
judgment this end can best be accom-
plished by the adoption of the bus by
the older agency at those points where
public demand or, the greater adapta-
bility of the motor vehicle, make it
the more efficient medium. He took
occasion to congratulate the electric
railway men on their continued prog
ress in the face # heavy taxes and
regulations that n many cases are
difficult to follow.
Asking the question, if the buses
had come first, how many would now
be supplanted by trolley cars, the
speaker went on to picture the bus
industry as lusty infant, crying for
adoption and care, but one which if
mistreated, will bring down upon the
offenders public opinion "the greatest
of all laws"
Mr.. Reeves did not believe that
"rubber endangered the rails" TO any
great extent if there was developed a
proper coordination of bus and trolley
facilities. Continuing he said:
Tr0lley's Use Limited.
"The bus should be adopted as an
ally with the trolley which we shall
always have because the electric, lines
are still the best forms of mass trans
portation. Yet, with the present con-
gestion, the trolleys alone cannot
properly handle all street transpOrta-
ton. They cannot afford to build in
sparsely settled territories, and they
cannot supply the flexible service Of
fered by the trackless motor which
leads and unloads at the curb while
permitting other traffic to pass.
j"Nor can the bus do it alone. Think
how many would be required to sup
plant the trolleys, which last year
carried 100000. 900 passengers, or
1J,000000 more than in 1921.
Seat for Every Passenger.
a combination of the two seems
to be the real answer. Today more
than 100 trolley companies arc operat-
ing more than 1000 buses"
Analysing the direction which such
a coordination should take, the speak
er said that in some instances it has
seemed best for bus lines to be run
| independently but lin broad sense it
| has appeared to us in the bus indus
try as experts in transport the trolley
| people have a rare opportunity to en-
ter the bus field and thus give the
public complete transportation. At the
same time it is doubtful if the public
will support bus lines conducted on
trolley basis. While not always pos
sible to realize, the aim should be o
give a bus seat to every passenger. as
has been done successfully in New
York, Chicago and Detroit"
The only alternative 10 co-ordina-
ton, Mr.. Reeves said, is to leave bus
and trolley operations to continue IL
dependentiy which in his Judgment
would mean only the survival of the
fittest.
Under such n plan," he observed,
call would suffer, the public included,
by the great destruction of capital in
yolved. The prime consideration, there
fore. is to fix the fields of endeavor
which each shall enjoy.
Answer With Public.
"This brings us to the question OF
" neither the trolley shall own and OPP
crate buses, or whether a bus operator
shall be under control independent of
trolley management. The answer will
come from the public which will sup
port that type Of management which
gives the best service. In the past ii
has opposed trolley management of
bus lines because it feared the trolley
service with its straps and sometimes
an apparent lack of consideration for
the patrons.
"The public Impression that trolleys
have sought bus operation for the sole
purpose of bringing about their elimi-
nation IS belief that the electric
railway interests in this country must
change if their entrance into the new
field is to receive n proper welcome.
MANY trolley proponents would be
glad to see the trolley people forget
bus competition and instead, enter the
field with enthusiasm and with an APP
probation that they are developing a
1vsA department of their business"
There will of COZ :se be some places
where bus lines can best be conducted
by those indepedent operators who
pave been supplying a good servive.
IN bringing about coordination, Mr..
Reeves said that existing bus traEs-
bortation should either be permitted
a continue independently or else the
Pperators should paid a sum not
Measured by the secondhand value of
he equipment, but on the basis of its
alue as q going CJncern which pion-
cred a development idat has proved
value to the community.
Helps Pay Bills.
In reviewing the general transpor.
alton situation, Mr.. Reeves pointed
ut mat transportation is now paying
bore than s per cent of the nations
hx bill. according TO the figures d.
elepoed by John E. Walker. former
s. treasury tax adviser. While
be highway bill is a large item in an
ual expenditures. he also noted that
ut five cents of the general taxpayers
bllar is going TO this purpose, the re-
lainder of the fund coming from spe-
al taxes levied in large part against
he motor users or from bond issues
many instances TO be retired fir m
otor funds.
Comm sntine upon common carrier
sage of the highways. Mr. Reeves al
Dcated special taxes for motor We
cles operating as common carriers
the public roads. but said that it
as hardly fair to say that buses
ould build and maintain the high
avs primarily dedicated TO the use
ld service of TIE 12000,00G private
80 4bo ao,,ufrv