The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1905. THE MOTOR 'BUS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12545, 7 July 1905, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1905. THE MOTOR 'BUS.

It is probably in London that thq new auto-bus is seen at its best, and there it; is said to be rapidly driving thw elder methods of street traction to the walls In cities on the other side of tho Atlantic the new vehicle is also receiving serious .attention, and latest news from America indicates that Chicago, whoso whole traction system is about to be revolutionised, may give the autobus the first place in its new system. The municipal authorities of that city recognise that if the auto-bus can do what is claimed for it, it may prove unnecessary to spend gigantic sums in buying or rebuilding street railway plants of existing types. At all events, says a Chicago newspaper to hand by the last mail, "it may not be necessary to do more than rebuild at moderate expense, with the certainty that electric trolleys are nearing displacement for something better." New York has anticipated Chicago, and on the Ist of May all horse-drawn "busses in that city were entirely withdrawn in favour of the motor 'bus. A correspondent writing to a Christchurch contemporary, supporting the proposed institution of a auto-bus suburban service, ady dvces some very interesting facts in support of his belief that motor 'busses have come to stay. Ho says that they threaten even now to oust the electric trams where existing, to wit, South Shields (England), where at a recent meeting of the Town Council, a memorial signed by a large number of ratepayers was presented, praying the Council to seriously consider the advisability of adopting a motor 'bus system, which would be more up-to-date, moro appropriate, and cheaper than electric? trams. The arguments in favour of the petition were: Diminished cost, greater freedom of movement, and reduced fares. The principal advantage of the auto-bus is that operating expense ceases when the car stops running. With the present system of rail transportation the power-houses must keep in operation though many of the cars are idle. There is also a flexibility to a motor car line that no street railway can ever have. The line of travel may be changed to suit emergencies ""and routes may be altered to suit dlifferent times of the year or varying publio needs. An auto-motor car, with a driver and conductor, is entirely inde-. pendent of any set of tracks, and may be shifted from one line to another. As many may be put into service as are necessary to give cross-town connec-< tiens wherever needed. Not only are motor 'busses plying successfully against electric trams, but we even find railway

companies running motors on existing lailroads, e.g., the North Eastern Railway Company have installed a 90 h.p. motor into a luxurious coach to carry from seventy to eighty passengers. Sta-» f . ■ >• tistics compiled by the general manager '^-^ of the Liverpool Corporation Electrio Tiftmways prove that motor 'busses efficiently do the work of three electric trams, and at a considerable saving* The Beckenham electric tramway system was recently abandoned to adopfi a motor Jbus system. Again, at NewYork, on May Ist, all horse-drawn 'busses were entirely withdrawn in favour of the motor 'bus. Regarding a comparison of fares, it is computed thafj motor 'busses affect a reduction of from 25 per cent, to 40 per cent., as against trains, i.e., the rail fare from Kew Bridge, to Kingston is 5d., by motov 'bus 3d., :ind the latter company paying a dividend of 15 per cent. It is) estimated that there are now running in England over 2500 motor 'bussesy that factories are refusing orders ©very day, being unable to turn them out in sufficient numbers, and that the London General Omnibus Company, and thf London Road Car Company, have both adopted them in large numbers, the latter company recently giving one firnj an additional order for fifty motor 'busses. In view of the fact that the Wanganui Borough Council is considering, and we believe seriously considering, the institution of a motor 'bus service in this town, this information is both interesting and reassuring. The advantages certainly appear to be all i;» farcnr' of a flexible, railless, and economical service such as can be commenced with a limited number of car.? and without the heavy cost of track- -i laying.