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IP&. im COST UK BCBH1IT0 SHW SIET CH Xxpsrisnoe of Trsagportation 0 omp&nies in Lawrence, New York, Plainfield and Chicago Prove Railways Unable to Compete With Bas Lines—Estimates of Expense for Mu nidpal System Show Large Paper Profits. By D. C. FENNER (International Motor Company.) Ont of tho problems of increasing traffic congestion In largo cities has come a now understanding of the con veniences and economies offered by the motor bus. Its acceptance has doomsd older forms of transportation. Just as tho surface oars, in their turn, su c ceeded the horse care and stage coaches. In Boston the Eastern Massachu setts Street Railway company, oper ating In the Lawrence district, is charging a 10-cent fare, white buses in competition transport passengers on the same route for 6 cents. The street railway company notified public offi cials that unless measures were adopt ed to restrict motor bus competition their service would be discontinued. Their statement says that the time has come when the public must choose be tween street railway and motor bus service. Although the bus licenses were revoked by the city council the , public's choice is indicated by the in creasing monthly loss this competition was causing the traction company, which reached $25,000 In October. TRACKLESS STREETS SOON Several cross 1 own surface car lines In New York city shut down because they could not operate profitably on a 0-cent fare basis. Buses under mu nicipal control took their place, gave the public quicker and more satisfac tory service for the same fare, and <lld It profitably. The buses of the Fifth Avenue Coach company have met with phenomenal success, having already traveled n distance of »ore than 40, OOO.OOO miles. In the words of Mayor Hylan. "The day of the street surface ••ors has gone forever and it will not he long before New Yorkers will have trackless streets." In one year, ending Oct. 31. 1919. the Chicago Motor Bus company carried in Its buses of 61 passenger capacity 4,106,208 persons on 58.027 round trips. This represents an increase from a daily average of 2229 passengers in 1917 to 78.965 in 1919. This company has recently Introduced a new type of bus with Inclosed seats on top that will accommodate 60 passengers. LE830N FROM JITNEY8 Although the universal use of motor buses for passenger transportation is apparently inevitable their success de pends entirely upon certain elements of organisation and operating methods. Bus operators of the present and of the future may well profit by the experi ence Of the so-called Jitney lines that have failed through loose organisation and cut-throat methods of competition. The majority of these lines were oper ated by ex-chauffeurs and teamsters who because of the liberal credit ex tended by truck dealers could do busi ness with very little capital. Although their equipment was In most cases in ferior they assumed that It could be operated for as little ns the high grade and more expensive vehicles that are found in the fleets of success ful bus line operators. The unsuccess ful operator estimated the cost of gaso line, oil. tires and driver's wages and added to this his garage rent and In terest on notes. On a basis of what this cost him. pins his profit, he found that he could charge a lower rate than lijs competitors. Successful operators know that expenses involving the fol lowing Items must be taken into con sideration: EXPEN8E CLASSIFIED Fixed Charges—Amortization (re serve for depreciation); Interest on Investment; insurance, fire, transpor tation and theft, publie liability and property damage, collision: overhead, administration requirements; taxes; licenses. Maintenance Charges—Oarage, renL pmimiiiiiniiiitiiiiMiiiiniiiiniiiiHnimiimiiiiiiiHniiiiimnmnnimmiiiiiiiiiimiiimniiinnflniiimnimiiiiiiimiiiinmjg C Wilisa 3 FREEZING will ruin your Storage Battery If your car will be idle through the winter months, arrange to store your Battery with us. Ask your dealer to get a Willard Threaded Rub ber Battery for you. Free Inspection any Battery any time. BERTRAM BATTERY STATION »12 Grove Street heat, light, power, etc.; repairs, mate rial and labor; overhauling; painting: wrecking crew and equipment; me chanics and inspectors; battery re newal and charging. Running Costs—Gasoline; oil: tires; wages of drivers, dispatchers, super intendents, etc.; grease, kerosene and waste. DATA FOR UNIT COSTS To calculate unit costs on wjhlch rates may be based It is necessary to secure a report from each driver at regular intervals covering the above items. A simple yet flexible form of monthly report is used -by the Subur ban Transit company of Plainfield, N. J. This company operates a fleet of 13 Mack buses In the vicinity of Plain field and maintains a thoroughly up to-date garage with storage and re pair facilities. The low rates charged by uninformed operators imperil the business of those who know their costs. Although the informed operator knows that his com petitors are losing money and will sooner or later be forced to give up their business because they have no reserve to repair or replace worn out buses he is helpless to obtain business in the face of their competition, ns he knows that he cannot lower his own rates. For this reason franchises should be given only when there Is assurance that the operator has made a careful study of the undertaking. INTERESTING ESTIMATES An Interesting anajysis of the costs of motor bus operation was made re cently In New York city by the com missioner of plant and structures to the board of estimate. The proposal was for a permanent municipally-op erated system of bus lines and shows that 100 buses operating on a 5-cent fare basis ran be made to pay a profit of $376.80 a day. The cost of 100 buses Is figured at $550,000, spare parts at $10,000 and garage equipment at $10, 000, a total Investment of $570.000. For maintenance the estimate provides $635,000 yearly, covering liability at $500 per bus, garage cOHt at $250 per bus und 180 chauffeurs at $1800 a year. Depreciation Is figured at 30 per cent a year on buses and 10 per cent a year on other equipment. These Items, to gether with provisions for a superin tendent, starters and checkers, totals $17.40 per duy for each bus. I For running cost 4 cents a mile Is allowed for gasoline and oll, 8V4 cents i for tires and 186 cents for repairs, a. I total of 12 cents per mile. The plan contemplates the operation of 92 buses, eight being kept for break-down ser vice. At an average of 80 miles a day per bus the totul "hua miles per day" will be 7360, which, with the fixed charges, brings the total cost of oper ation to $2,623.20. At.the conservative estimate of 60,000 5-cent fares, or a total revenue of $3000 a day, the net dally profits are figured at $376.80. The estimate does not Include Interest on the Investment. Insurance, other than liability, or state motor vehicle license fees. M. A. M. A. FIELD SECRETARY Because of the rapidly expanding tu>rk of the Motor and Accessory Man ufacturer»' association it has been found necessary to appoint a field sec retary to travel about the country And keep In direct personal touch with tho various members. M. L. Hemingway, general manager of the association, has announced that Alexander W. Barber, formerly con nected with the credit department of the Irving National bank of New York city, has been selected for this impor tant work. Mr. Barber has already started on his first western trip. MOIOK. Digest n Automobiles are still restricted in Bermuda. Street traffic in -Buenos Aires goes to the left. The average motor truck has a dis placement of five hOrsea. The Detroit Automobile club has a membership of more than TOM. American-made automobiles are ex ported to $1 different countries. Citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, have bought 15,000 automobiles during 1110. Prices of the latest French passen ger automobiles range from $2000 to $30.000. Automobile tourists will find the longest mile In Norway. It contains 12,182 yards. Buses on Fifth avenue, New York city, have had a continuous service of 13 years. There has been an increase of 22 per cent in the sale of motor cars dur ing the past year. The average consumption of gaso line per automobile is from 10 to 14 barrels per annum. Thb College of the City of New York has added two automobile courses to 1 Its list of studies. A magneto Industry in Hapton, Eng. was established entirely by the labor of women. It Is estimated that there will be no less than 26.000 automobiles in North Curollna in 1920. There were 214 passenger ears and 15 motor trucks exported to the Dutch Fast Indies during August, 1919. Eighty-seven different makes of pas senger cars and 70 of motor trucks are produced in the United States. England. France and Italy are plan ning to ship care to America with prices ranging from 210,000 to 220,000 apiece. The amount of capital Invested In the manufacturing of complete passenger care and trucks now exceeds $1,500, 000.000. In the registration for automobiles and trucks for 1919 Ohio has taken the lead from New York of 3416 more mo tor vehicles operated. During 1918 Great Britain Imported 193,000.000 gallons of motor spirits, 70 per cent of which came from the United States. The 6,500,000 motor cars in use In the United States by the end of 1919 will have displaced no less than 30, 000.000 horses. Through the enforcement of the so called blue laws of the state of 'Mary land the sale of gasoline is forbidden on Sunday. Of the 42,000 motor trucks made dur ing the third quarter of 1919 there were more of the three-quarter-ton type sold than of any other kind. The number of motor care stolen each year In the United States is far greater than the combined output of five big manufacturing plants. Servant girls in the exclusive resi dential section of St. Paul, Mo„ have the use of their mistress' automobiles "one or two" times a week. More than 75,000 licenses have been issued this year In Cleveland, Ohio, at the branch license bureau conducted by the Cleveland Automobile club. A mammoth automobile garage is to be constructed at Atlanta, Ga., with capacity of 2000 cars and containing 175,000 square feet of floor space. The estlmrfted cost of a Rooaevelt Memorial highway across Dong Island Is $2,000.000. The proposed route will connect New York with Montauk point. Four million dollars for the con struction of roads during 1920 will be available In Maine. It Is expected that 150 miles of new state highway will be constructed. As a result of demands for a more expensive automobile than is manu factured in the United States a large plant Is to be erected for the produc tion of a British car at Springfield, Mass. The president of the United Business Men's association of Philadelphia is in favor of a large corps of motorcycle policemen. A resolution will be passed requesting the city to place such po jrri'ÄÄS Mr in MM. fin one-plate law origi nated in the senate at the lent session of the general assembly and waa urged an an economic measure. B e f e n seeming a motor license to operate a Mr In Brasil a chauffeur muet pass severe examinations. The applicant must undergo road trials, register fingerprints and photograph and license number, which is recorded by the police authorities. Private chauffeurs -in New York city are demanding higher wages and shorter working hours. The petition calls for a minimum wage of $40 a week, a 10-hour working day and two hours off for lunch and recreation, $1 an hour for overtime, free uniforme and one day and night off a week. France le making systematic plans to attract the automobile tourist. Un der a new order all the villages in the country are to have their names shown In eight-inch letters at the municipal offices. National roads will have red painted milestones, while the old-fash toned sign-posts are to be replaced by large blue enamel plates, with the di rection of the next town and Its dis tance displayed In big white letters, so as to be easily read from the pass ing cars. PRESENT USES BUT TUP POSSIBILITIES OF Ban to Be Spent on Roads in 1920 Four Times as Great as This Year—Advantage to Farmers Tremendous. Probably the announcement that the proposed expenditures in the United States for the next year for hard sur faced highways will be $633,060,000 as compared with the $125,000,000 of the closing year for the same purpose should mean more to the farmers of this country than to nearly any other class. It Is a significant fact that nearly 60 per cent of the trucks of the United States work in the country, though large percentage of them may be hous ed in the city. Though about 20 per cent of them are actually owned by farmers, which represents 10,000 more than are used by any other class of producers, the manufacturers come next in line in the use of trucks. "A simple study of these figures will bring home to the residents of the ru ral communities," declares M. D. Pül cher, vice president and general man ager of the Federal Motor Truck com pany, Detroit. Mich., "the tremendous advantage that will accrue to them through tho large appropriation for new roads the next year. "Thirty per cent of the people for whom 60 per cent of the trucks of this country work will certainly receive their share of new highways. It means that their 60 per cent of the trucks will have Juet that many more and bet ter road facilities for the transporta tion of the goods they are accustomed to transport. "But it means even more than that. It means that new roadways, the fore runner of the truck and civilization, will enable them to use the trucks for transporting an even greater variety of commodities with a consequent saving of money and time. "The possibilities of the truck for carrying commodities between farms and cities have only been touched. The newer and better roads will give the Impetus needed to bring out all its possibilities." MILLIONS OF TONS OF FH ID BE Coming Development in Truck and Good Roads Movements in Next Two Years Credited Largely to Pneumatics. "Within the next two years millions of tons of freight will be shipped on air." This prediction, made by John M. Maguire, president of the Mid-West Rubber association, is not a reference to airplane transportation of freight, but to the development of the sir filled or pneumatic tire to truck ca pacity. "Nothing the tire Industry has ac complished in recent years,' said Mr. Maguire, "is more important than this development. When a truck is equipped with pneumatic tires both the truck and its load are literally transported on compressed air. And there ia noth ing better to haul loade on. The truck, the load and the road are saved count less Jar# and Jolts, for air is the best of ahock-abaorbers. With pneumatltc tires the life of the truck is greatly prolonged, roads receive but a mini mum amount of wear and loads are carried with greater safety and econ omy." Mr. Maguire, who Is vice-president of the Pertage Rubber company of Akron and Barberton, believes that the development of the pneumatic tire to truck capacity la to have Important results In converting thousands to the "ship-by-truck idea" and In promoting better roads. •OLIO TIMS STILL NISDED •The communltlce that must bear the cost of creating better highways," he pointed out, "are going to pay this east much more cheerfully than in the ■Mt whan they see the advantages u the pneumatic tire for trucks, ft wil bring quicker and better transporta tion ter the merchants and industries —will not be the raad-de factors they have bso» Phone 715 mutual auto livery •SO MAIN Ion, may not be for a long tlmo to come, If ever. "The heavy trucks, designed to haul building materials and other loads of great weight," he stated, "still require the solid rubber tire. Industry and commerce will continue to rtoiuire such trucks and the manufactu* of solid rubber tires will cot^nue as an essen * tial Industry. But it Is highly encour aging, from the viewpoint of good roads promoters that more and more trucks are being built for which the air-filled tire is not only practicable but la specified. PROMOTIONS*MADE IN REPUBLIC ORGANIZATION Tho Republic Motor Truck company, Inc*, of Alma, Mich., annonces the ap pointment, effective Dec. 1, of O. W. Hayes as general manager and Thomas M. House os general sales manager. Both these men have been connected with the Republic company almost from Its beginning, Mr. Hayes having formerly been in charge of the purchas ing department, designing, engineering and latterly factory managed. (Mr. House was formerly eastern division sales manager with headquarters in New York City, and latterly Pacific coast sales manager. The promotion of these men from within the ranks of the Republic or ganization was prompted by their thorough understanding of the busi ness and their appreciation of the prob lems which confront the largest motor truck sales organization in the Indus try. LONG TOW ROPE When it becomes necessary to em ploy a team of horses to pull a car out of the mud or sand the ultimate hu miliation in any event, be careful to use as long a tow rope as possible. Not only does this permit the team to get a better footing, but It allows the engine to be used to help the unlmals without fear of suddenly lunglug for ward Into the team. With the Wonderful New Springs You Skim Over the Rough Spots T HE new three-point suspension Triplex Springs of Overland 4 make it a totally different kind of car. It is wonderfully easy rid ing because thesenew springs ward off the bumps of the road. Riding seems like floating. It is light in weight and therefore economical of tires and fuel. Economical also in upkeep because the springs protect car and mechanism from the wearing shocks of the road. Overland 4 is easy to handle because of its short wheelbase,' though the springbase is long like that of big heavy cars. This combination of light car convenience and big car comfort results in a car of such exceptional qualities that it establishes a remark ably high standard of motor car comfort. The Sedan ■« complete in every detail. It weighs only 200 pound* more than the Touriag Car I » ; sin BOISE OVERLAND GO. me-?-* torts Tamil ei. (Ms »sonma g) iHIR pr (Own«r< little Bothers in Repmir Bill, by Cetehing Weekly Once-Over The weekly overhauling of ths ear seems like a tedious end useless task. But St means freedom from trouble In days to come when trouble will fbl low you "conslstenly" as' Bert Wil liams used to aay, "if you neglect the little things now. Bee that the grease cup« are filled and turned down. Bach has its little part in making the car last longer. A worn spring bolt, for lack of grease, may mean a broken spring some day. One point neglected on the steering assembly may mean a worn part and a wreck by the roadside as a result. Examine the tires for cuts and have the little out« vulcanised before they grow into big onee filled with dirt and loosen rubber from fabric. See that there is oil in the engine and water in the radiator. Of course, this is more than a weekly rite. It Is a first essential to caring for a car. Notice if the fan belt is tight enough. A slipping belt, a fan falling short of Its full duty and a hot day combine to cause an overheated engine. And It's all unnecessary._ MMMMMMMMMMnNWMMMMWMMMMMmMMMHMMMIMMMWMWp» Extra Tested to Take Roads as They Come No mailer where you drive your car, RA CINE or GOODRICH Tires can be relied upon to take the roads as they come. GUARANTEED FABRIC TIRES MOO MILKS OORD TIRES 8000 NIILE8 GASOLINE FREE AIR OIL MORLER'S CYCLERY 306-208 North Ninth Strest. Phene 546 awawaawawaiiMaawwaai>awaanwwwaaii2iaanaaiMMNaw<Muia<Muiwn*>$wJ5 Tighten up luge. Lugs ever an slightly loose may let a rim créât) around and pull out a valve item, mak ing a good tube go bad. When the lugs get old and the rim creeps in spite of your effort get new ones. You'll en joy your ride more If you don't have to worry about creeping tlree. Now and then get under and see that spring clips are belted tightly and that the bottom of the crank case has no loose nuts. He sure that the brakes arc holding all right, and -if they- fall of their full duty, take up the slack. Test the various points of the steer ing assembly for wear and tighten up loose Joints. Dike bad teeth an automobile neg lected is piling up labor and-trouble manifold for the future. The earlieet exports of cotton from America were made In 1785, in which year one bag was sent from Charles ton to Diver pool, while twelve were sent from Philadelphia and one from New Yorn.