Evening star., 1939-07-09
Train Passengers
To Find Rental Autos
Waiting Along Lines
RoiIroud Extension Service
To Supply Cars
In Western Cities


DETROIT, July 8 Ever
plan a long railroad trip and wish
you could find an automobile wait
ing for you, ready to use, at every
stop along the line?
Something like that has happened
to almost every car owner. And now
somebody is going to do something
about it.
Negotiatio are under way in De-
troit that will enable the railroad
traveller to have the facilities of a
vell-conditioned automobile Wher-
ever he stops. Final details of the
program still are to be worked out.
The railroads of the country are so
enthusiastic about the proposal,
however, that there is small posi-
bility the plans will fall through.
To Ed Shea, a quick thinking
Irish dealer in Lincoln, Nebr., the
travellers of the United States will
owe this new development Shea
had the idea several years ago that
some service ought to be available
Act tAiN mail wiz waits W ltdNe Ills
own car at home, step aboard a
railroad train and yet not be without
automobile facilities. Shea debated
the merits of his idea for long
time, then decided to start the Rail-
road Extension Service.
About 400 Cities Included.
Briefly, Shea has organized COM
pany that proposed to offer an auto
mobile leasing service to railroad d
passengers, beginning January |,
1910 His company will operate from
the Great Lakes to the Pacific Coast
ana from Texas to Canada in nearly
400 clties-chiefly centers of more
than 10000 population.
Before organizing his corporation
Shea approached both automobile
corporations and railroads. 1t was
not surprising that the automobile
companies looked with favor on his
plans. HIS program called for 10000
or 10000 new low-priced cars. But
the railroads also developed an i'm
mediate liking for his idea.
Ihese railroads already have been
lined up for the proposed service
burlington. Chicago q Northwestern,
Chlcago q Eastern Illinois, Illinois
Central, Missouri. Kansas e. Texas:
missouri Pacific, Union Pacific, Chi
cago. st. Paul, Minneapolis e.
Omaha.
Here is the way the plan will work :
A salesman from Chicago plans a
TRIP to Omaha, Nebr., and to out
lSlng points in the Omaha neigh
oodhood. He needs a car TO visit
these polnts-chiefy smaller towns,
which he can't make conveniently
by railroad connections.
Car Delivered on Arrival.
Under the program that Shea is
settlng up, the salesman will buy
a railroad ticket to Omaha. lust the
same as he would under any ordi-
nary circumstances But an auto
mobile will be waiting for him at
Omaha and other cities he deslg-
mates. In fact, uniformed attend
ant VIII meet him at the train with
Keys to the car at his disposal.
The automobile will carry no iden-
TRYING tags or insignia. The rental
price? That will depend upon the
usage. A number of different rental
systems are contemplated to fit the
exact needs of the traveller.
Under contracts that are being
drawn up with the railroads, the
fallroad extension service agrees to
furnish adequate rental service to
meet all normal and reasonable
demands The railroads promise to
advertise and promote the service,
supply the leasing company with
offlce space in each station. assist in
handling funds and provide parking
space. The railroads also will tele-
graph ahead to order an automobile
TOR patrons use.
Inc railroads say the leasing plan
should help them recapture some
OF the traffic that has been lost in
recent years to the highways. The
disappearance of the travelling sales
man from the list of the railroads
patrons has cut heavily into passen-
ger receipts.
3 Cents a Mile.
The car rentals will include pro-
visions for insurance of the user
Tor property damage, public liability.
f1re, theft and collision. The daily
rate is to be 8 cents mile with a
minimum OF IS miles in IL hours
Inc weekly basis will give an 8-cent-
annie rate on 350-mile minimum
The hourly rate also will be s cents
mile. with minimum of 10 miles
Automobiles will be available to
railroad passengers upon a deposit
OF $40 at the rental agency. In
olviduals and firms may obtain
identification cards through rail-
road or personal references, how
ever, to obviate the necessity of
deposit
The railroads will share in none
OF the profits, according to Shea
nor will they be paid a commission
Tor any of the business. Accord
lngly, Shea and his associates are
asking none of tho roilroo de +o choro