Evening star., 1925-02-17
TRAFFIC RELIEF
DEMAND IS URGED
Shannahan Says $4,000, 600
Who Ride Street Cars Are
Delayed by Minority.

on the electric railways OF the United
States should rise up and demand traf-
fic congestion relief. J. N. Shannahan.
president OF The American Electric
Railway Association. declared In an
address before the closing session OF
the convention of the association at
the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States today. Failure to limit
and prohibit parking and to restrict
traffic to certain channels WAS de-
clared by Mr.. Shannahan to be play
ing havoc with electric railway and
bus schedules. Four-ffths OF all per-
sons who ride are patrons of electric
railway company owned cars or busses,
he said. and are being delayed by a
small minority of riders In other
vehicles.
The 500 delegates were received at
the White House at noon today by
President Coolidge. They were taken
to the executive offices by Lucius S.
Storrs OF New Haven, Conn.,, who was
appointed managing director OF the
association yesterday.
Mr.. Shannahan said ne was not
seeking to array persons not owning
motor cars against owners. adding
that many car riders are motor own
ers. who. beset by traffic congestion
troubles, are using electric cars and
busses.
Use Of FIXED Fare.
Turning to other problems of street
car companies. Mr. Shannahan de-
clared that within the last six years
the old fixed fare. which was q mill
| stone around the neck OF electric rail-
ways" has been abandoned as un-
scientific and unfair. Busses have
come. he said. to supplement instead
of compete with electric railway serv-
Ice. and electric railway managements
| throughout tho country are making 9
use OF the various forms OF local
transportation to enable them to give
a complete service. while, in turn. the
regulatory bodies and forward-look-
ing municipalities are turning to the
electric railways to supply the local
transportation.
"As a result primarily of better
fares and the elimination OF unfair
bus competition. electric railways
generally have gotten on their feet.
Where one sixth OF the industry was
In bankruptcy when the public was
| invited in to help solve the trAnspor-
| the United States are in the hands OF
receivers.
ConEestion CnApeakable.
Traffic congestion IL unspeak bic.
Despite the best efforts Of local
| service. 1t is virtually impossi BILE
nowadays. by reason OF traffic con-
gestion. to maintain any respect able
schedules in our city streets. The
average running time of an electric
| car or bus should be from 10 to IL
| miles an hour, and yet In some cities II
Is Impossible. in the downtown sections,
to move at a greater rate Of speed than
miles an hour In any sort of vehicle. ="
Mr.. Shannahan suggested two major
steps which would help very much. Pre-
vention Of tho use Of streets for park
ing of automobiles would help, he said,
while the 'unscrambling'' Of traffic. with
establishment Of regular lanes Of travel
for the separate lanes Of traffic, would
aid very materially.
Mr.. Shannahan announced that in CO.
operation with Secretary Hoovers ac-
! cident prevention movement the electric
railway Industry Ii starting a nation
wide advertising poster campaign. He
said that accidents to passengers on
cars were being reduced. but that acci-
dents due to other vehicles striking
street cars and alighting passengers
were increasing.
Urging officials Of street railway
companies to get acquainted with
conditions on the lines they operate,
Peter Witt of Cleveland, describinE Z
himself as car rider among car
owners, which he said was as rare as
statesman in Washington" called on
tho electric railway men to sell their
service to the public through better
public relations.
Get acquainted with your own
product. Ride in your own street
cars" Mr.. Witt told the street rail-
way executives, ''and you will get
q bctter slant on the operating side
Of your properties from the viewpoint
OF the car rider"
The electric railway men were
urged to take tho public into their
confidence and Advertise what they
have to SELF by Commissioner Esch
Of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. Mr.. Esch, ono of the men chief
ly responsible for the formation and
passage Of tho transportation act Of
1920, and now q member of the Fed
eral regulatory body, said the street
railways have a right to tell the
patronizing public they owe tho rail-
ways something.
He pointed to the development of
now suburban areas around cities,
great Industrial developments and
other developments which were great
ly aided by street car service. "Ad-
yertise what you have to SELL" Mr..
Esch added.
Mr.. Esch reviewed the history of
the various measures designed to reg
ulate commerce and touched briefly
| on the several Federal agencies which
have to do with commerce. He said
the day Of the universal scent fare
for street car riding is now past, and
| that cents 10 now regarded a. the
sacred" figure.
The session was opened by Col. J..
Franklin Bell, engineer Commissioner r
Of the District Of Columbia, who well
coined the delegates to Washington.
George e. Hamilton. president of
the Capital Traction Company, will
speak At the annual banquet Of the
association tonight.
ASKS FOR INJUNCTION.