New Britain herald., 1925-08-24
HOW MUCH PROFIT DO BUSSES MAKE?

Just how much profit Is there in the motor bus business? Numerous citizens probably have been won- dering whether the income of bus owners has been great or small, or whethel' it has been as much as the owners expected it would be when they went into business.
 There are rumors to h effect that many bus owners have not yet been adept at figuring all costs: and some of those who have been at tempting to do a little private fig uring have expressed themselves as skeptical. Yet there are no lack of ambitious bus owners and if the Public Utilities commission would set aside the regulation curbing competition with established rail- road and trolley lines every city and town in the state speedily would be "conneCted" with bus lines. The in ference is clear - there is at least belief widely prevalent that there is much profit i'll the bus business
 It costs more to run a bus than any make of automobile; the wear and tear is generally greater; and the life" of q bus, with its con- stant necessity for making stops cannot be as long as that accrulnE to inc average first class automobile D.pr :ialion costs must be hiSh' The wages of operators must Dc paid, and repair bills are said to be frequent and heavy. Some ob- servers have told us that 1t costs 50 cents a mile to run the average bus The only way to make money in the bus business, it is clear, IS to have plenty of passengers during all runs,
 When it is considered that utility commissions of many states appear 10 be as much in the dark as to the cost of bus operation as anyone else. and that cost accountants or railroad and street railway interests who haze become interested in bus oneration likewise are uncertain ot the actual costs Of operation, it IS clear that the innocent but inter cstcd bystaudcr likewise can hc m no better position 10 judge, If the old adagr. that Inc proof of the ouadtng is in the ,atiug thereof is i... "ipHcd .hcn the only dedoc- ,..l lo nHk. is that the hnsses on .h, .,..r. must be making ,rc., ,- ,bt their owners think ne, al.
 I.,1,a.- here are unproiiiahIo .ut.- r ., lus business as yell a. i. .t.,~ .Lr- uf transportation; al- ..o.,, u,a. pay well, Yet critics O, ,a. hu~-,> say that there must l somumos in back 'f thu as
 .r1uon that pcohts are not always 7p,. WIT. anticipated, and 'mph"- SIP f is possible 10 buy many "' inc l-s limos -- If though money Is raid wr tn.r on 'h" other nar., his mry not he far cri'erion' a, >.9mds ,,,ytNu2 IS flor s'lo' .. nay.- iy willing to pay enough
 |. no matter what tho profits rr., b.. ''. hp7 Hn's 7Up'1r to ho rer- !. sin. r o<rorlonc" shows 10 IT. .rr't. Of 'Le owners or owning somrrweg that profits arc rot what -hf z' oulf ho. fhe ruhIr knows ur-: will happen - tho rates ulti. m.'sry viu co IF. 1t costs loss tt ru irfn 'ho bus busress than n any 5'r., character oF transportation nt.res. considering that huss"s noof nc, he paid to- in cash nst as -oon as they ar. placed into us", h1t aos' frequently. it is under stood. are paid for Eraiuaty- If inc bus owners realiza 3 difficulty in rcaiug their payments and other expenses. they will know of fl be- fore anyone c'sc. T. would te inter- estinE 10 learn bow many of them have found tha slaidjng harl From rrrsart indications, fow when onoe established lines arc showing a tendency 10 go out of business, The tendency seems to ho just fhe op- posite - t Is sought 10 establish more lines than the railroads and trolley companies deem necessary. So far as the public is concerned. tho more lines that are established the better. As an official connected rith q Springfield mercantile estab-
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