Evening star., 1924-02-25
,MOTOR|z|NG AKRON
IS PROVING FAILURE
Tiremakers Are Now Ready
to Compromise-Firestone
Drops His Campaign.
Special Dispatch 10 The star.


NEW YORK, February 25.--"The
nickel or nothing" provision under which
buses arc expected to operate in
Akron, Ohio, has not proved attrac-
tive to the big bus companies, ac-
cordinG to automobile and street
transportation men throughout the
country Akron has been without
street car service since February l.,
when Mayor y. c. Rybolt notified the
Northern Ohio Traction and Light
Company that it's franchise would not
he renewed except on 5-cent fare
and free transfer basis.
Harvey 5. Firestone. tire manufac-
'urer and one OF the supporters of
the plan to put Akron on rubber
tires" has abandoned active partici-
patton in the plan to rubberize the
.'lty and Is preparing to go to Florida
The Northern Ohio Company has Of
iered 10 operate for sixty days on a
cent fare. with l cent additional for
transfer. until its books and accounts
could be investigated and its claim
that 1t is impossible to operate
without loss on scent fare can be
Substanttated. MIR. Firestone after
comforting with the traction company
officials. has announced that he con-
S'dered the company's proposal a fair
one and thought II should be accepted.
J3e also indicated he would not finance
any bus companies.
200 Fcrds Disposed of.
At the time street 'car service
ceased, Mr.. Firestone was quoted in
the Akron Beacon journal as say
ing: II feel that 1t Is my duty and
the duty of every citizen to give the
sible TO motor:ze the city. This car
and will be done" At that time Mr..
Flrestone conside Tered from the Ford
company 600 cars. These were sent
crs, who dispatched them with bills
Of ladtng attached. Ftrestone re-
turned 120 of these and since that
time has disposed of the remaining
eighty TO the Akron Transportation
Company.
Other tire manufacturers have
ceased to urge the complete motori-
zatton of Akron on the ground that
The time is not ripe for such a de-
Tclopment. They point out that IN
many cities street railways are also
running bus service in conjunction
with their lines instead of in com
petition, and that such service has
heen satisfactory and tending toward
1he increased consumption or bus
tires. Financial interests identlhed
with public utilities in u number OF
large centers are also alleged TO be
opposed to the continuation or the
situation in Akron. These are among
!. the factors which have Influenced
large bus companies not to estapilsh
:. unified service in that city. .
John S. Ritchie, formerly head OF
the Fifth Avenue Coach COMPANY IN
New York and now 1dentlned Win
large bus manufacturing interests IN
chicago, who was called In by MAYOR
7ryhoIt. said frankly that q o-cent
uus fare was Impossible.
Opposes Akron Methods.
William O'Eeil, president Of the
General Tire and Rubber company:
who has advocated acceptance OF
some temporary aSreemeht WIN IN.
,,pposed buses. We do large busl-
ness with bus lines over the country,
and their use Is essential, but tninh
it is a dire mistake TO attempt 70
,notoriZe a city the size of Akron IN
the wav the attempt is being MADE.
If the bus is right as common car
rier II will come into It's own IN the
1:Iain course of economic eTolution.
I'VE have talked fare ana rates
first. when service should have peen
the first consideration. Akron doesn
want buses to fall or their use 10 oe
retarded throughout the country. TOT
it would reflect on the tire BUSINESS -,
THE plan has failed so far, Nut II Is
not the failure of the buSses
1l5 People in One Bus.
The city council of Akron has
turned down the proposal of tenn
rorary osrstion by the tfac,on dsclsp pes cGm ,hst
h,,s service will be improved and
that the city administration will
maintain It's position until the peo.
pIe signify that they believe that
position wrong.
There are now aosus 100 buses ,sa and and
175 jitneys in operatien and the cits
.n1ncil has granted franchises to
Two bus concerns to operate on lin
, tied routes at a scent fare, with
1-cent transfers. Those favoring a
s.omnromjse say that in some cases
115 people have been loaded into
busses seating thirty-six and that
rs there is no unified service, it costs
some citizens from 90 cents to 40
cents to get to their places of busi-
ness.
In the meantime, business men in
Akron are still hoping that the way
has not been closed finally for, some
solution of the problem which VIII
allow operation of both street cars
and busseS.