LONDON BUS CENTENARY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 2, 2 July 1929, Page 4

LONDON BUS CENTENARY

DAYS OF THE HORSES

PAPER PENCE ISSUE

Tim ccntcrnry of London's bus'-n <»■• curs on 4th July. Tim tirst utniiitiiiM, ai unspxuug vehicle iliawn by lliior horses, which carried twunly-lwo \»i»sjugers, ran between tlio "Yorkshire Stingo," I'addington, mid Ilio IS.'uik (ways the "Manchester Guardian"). Tho faro was a shilling. The idea of running the bus service occurred to an English coachbuilder named Gcorgo Shilliboor, who had seen them in the streets of Paris. Tho conductors wcio the sons of naval officers. Nineteen years later came lighter vehicles on which accommodation was made for two passengers on the box. It is recorded that amongst the earliest proprietors was v certain Mrs. Anne Mitchell, who actually drove her own bus on the Hammersmith route, until a collision brought about her retirement from the box.

In December, 1855, came the London General Omnibus Company, founded in Paris under the title of the Compagnie Generale dcs Omnibus dcs Londres. Things went rather badly at first. Tliere were many difficulties and little organisation. During 1851, owing to the large crowds visiting the Great Exhibition, some of the bus proprietors raised their fares from 3d to 4d, and the London newspapers of the period were, to quote an old writer, "full of rightous angry letters expressing the disgust of the town at the outrageous profiteering." The notice of the increased fares was "carefully concealed amongst the legs of the people inside."

THE THREE-HORSE EXPRESSES. As the influence of tho L.G.O.C. began to be felt inflammatory placards were posted in the ciiy and elsewhere against the "foreign innovation." Tho position became so acute that the police had to intervene. When it became known, however, that the Campagnie Generale did not , intend to run in competition with the existing companies, but to buy the old routes and employ the is'ame drivers and conductors the situation became easier. In the first month 2 omnibuses were being operatod, but this number soon grew to 198. In the 'sixties about 800 omnibuses were running. Conductors* were sure of their wages because they paid themselves each week out of the takings? What were known as "threehorse expresses" made two journeys in the morning between Highbury and tho G.P.0., while in'the night they ran from Charing Cross to cope with the after theatre traffic.

"Paper pence" were issued for tickets

in 1857, and the idea became so popular hat drapery firms began to invest in "paper pence" which they gave their patrons in lieu of small change. The company suffered considerably from petty pilferings on the part of conductors. One, it is stated, sent 17s 6d "conscience money" when he left the service, requesting that a "receipt" should be posted in the office window. The district manager posted a notice as follows: — Eeceived tho sum of 17s 6d, with thanks. Please forward the remainder as soon as possible. In 1893 came the bell punch system of tickets, and to-day over 500 tons of tickets are used on the L.G.O.C. buses in a year. It was the L.G.O.C. who made the first attempt to get tramways in London. The lines were to be laid from Notting Hill Gate via Marylcbone road to the Hank. Such opposition was countered, however, that Parliament refused to sanction tho scheme, and tho "General" tramway projoct was abandoned for good.