Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-17

Special Dispatch to The Star.
TORONTO, Ontario, November 10
For the first time an authentic record
of the increase in population and pas
senger traflc on rail and motor coach
lines in the United States has been
made available to transportation ex-
perts and others interested by the pres
entation at the transportation meeting
of the Society of Automotive Engineers
here last week by Frederick G. Horner
of a 15-year survey.
1T is evidenced" said Mr.. Horner,
that the advent of the motor coach
has very materially changed the riding
habit of our people. Figures indicate
clearly the truly phenomenal growth Of
motor coach transportation in the
United States during the last decade.
1.-The short-haul, intercity and intra-
state motor coach service is still more
impressive in the volume of miles and
passengers carried, the figures showing
portation sold and 292 ,000,0 900 passen-
gers carried during 1928. Some form
Of motor coach service is operated be-
tween all cities and towns of any size,
and these services are continuously be-
ing improved Here would point out
that the more convenient and comfort
able we make any form of transporta-
ton service, granted the traffic is pres
ent, the greater the riding habit will
become.
Transportation Figures.
According to the latest figures COM
piled by Bus Transportation, as OF
January 1, 1929, slightly more than one
half of the 1882 cities in the United
States having a population OF more
than 10000 had some form OF local
motor coach service. OF approximately
625 such cities reporting bus service
1853, or 90 per cent, had no other means
of public transportation than buses,
taxicabs and private automobiles. In
London the motor omnibus is such
big factor in the city transportation
picture that nearly 5000 are in daily
service and during 1928 carried more
than 1850, 900 passengers. Although
we have nothing in the nited States to
compare with this operation, still our
city service bus occupies a very i'm
portant place in our city transportation
structure. It has made real contrl-
button to the new demands caused by
changed conditions. New sections Of
transportation demands, which have
been filled by the city type motor coach.
Feeder lines, co-ordinated with electric
railways and main line motor coach
service, have come to be as necessary a
part of the transportation facilities of
most of our cities as the streets on
which the electric car, the bus and the
automobile operate.
More than 800 electric railway COM
panies in the United States and Can
ada are now operating approximately
10,700 motor coaches, covering more
than 10000 route miles, in conjunction
with their rail service. Some so addi-
tional companies have entirely replaced
their electric car service, using more
than 500 motor coaches for this pur-
pose. The motor coaches owned by all
these companies were operated an ag-
gregate of 100000 900 miles during 1928
and carried more than 100000, 900
passengers.
I'm some cases in the railroad field
the motor coach is limited to sparsely
settled districts where there Is not Suf-
flcient traffic to justify the operation of
passenger trains, but in some other dis
trictS local passenger service can best
be performed by motor coaches in con-
junction with express train rail service.
Motor coach transportation should be
encouraged by the railroads whenever it
fulfllls the public need, and the railroads
should adopt it whenever it offers the
most economical method of transporta-
ton. If the public prefers to ride on
rubber 1t will do so, although in some
cases part of the price it must pay
must be a reduction in rail service
Some of our railroads are endeavoring
to direct the public's riding habits
along economic lines, supporting inde-
pendent highway transportation lines in
their legitimate field, but not hesitating
to provide their own motor coach Serv-
ice where 1t has proved to be the trans
portation tool that best meets the re-
quirements.