I was bored today and decided to go through old newspapers at the library and found this clipping from the October 8th, 1924 Bangor Daily News about the electric railways and the professional association president's perceptions on the future of transportation. They were pretty confident electric trolleys would stick around! For context, the University of Maine in Orono was served by electric trolley for a long time, and was the primary form of transportation to and from Bangor for many years for people in the area. I've included the clipping below and will include a transcription below that.
TRANSCRIPTION:
Title: TROLLEY LINES WILL HOLD THEIR OWN
Subtitle: Only Practical Way of Mass Transportation - Buses as Auxiliary.
Article text:
ATLANTIC CITY, Oct. 7 - Convinced that they are going to continue to handle the mass of local transportation on both rails and rubber, electric railway executives are going into the bus business widely. Britton I. Budd, president of the American Electric Railway Association, today told that organization's convention. Every state was represented among the 5,000 men present.
One hundred and fifty companies are now operating buses in conjunction with their electric railway service, and it is said that 25 percent of all of all the buses sold last year went to electric railway companies, Mr. Budd declared. Conviction that the mass of local transportation must be handled on electric cars had resulted from demonstration that they are the most economical in the use of street space, and maintain property values better than any other transportation vehicle.
The industry needs money for extension of its properties, and this is obtaining through the sales of securities to riders, the speaker declared. Financial support invariably comes to companies that place their securities on a dependable basis.
"I have the utmost faith in the future of the electric railways. No form of city transportation has been devised that can take their place." Mr. Budd continued. "It has been conclusively demonstrated that other forms, including motor buses, can be counted upon only as auxiliaries. Electric railways must continue to be developed for the fullest service, and for any city not to recognize this would be suicidal to the business prosperity and the convenience of the people and would soon reflect itself in depreciated property values and general community demoralization. ["]
"Increasing street congestion in every city has proven that mass transportation can only be handled over fixed routes over rails. It has been proved that this is the safest form of transportation, not only to riders, but to pedestrians. The speed and safety can be largely increased where there is proper cooperation between city officials and the railways. It has been shown that the financial responsibility necessary in the protection of a city and its people's interests, can be found only in a transportation agency that has a fixed investment in the community. The public appreciation of the situation, as outlined, is shown in the large increase in car riders, this in spite of the phenomenal increase in the number of pleasure automobiles and motor buses in the last few years.["]
"Motor bus operation appears to be on the way to a solution. At the present time about 150 of our companies are operating some 2,000 buses and it is probable that the numbers will be greatly increased in the immediate future. Where there is a public need for bus service, we should supply it, even if, for a time, we conduct it at a loss. We gain in public goodwill by giving the public the service it wants.["]
"The necessity of greater conservation of life and limb on our streets and highways is clearly apparent. The death toll is appalling and constantly grows as the congestion increases. Electric railways owe it as a civic duty to take an active hand in every effort to combat the carelessness and irresponsibility so largely responsible for the alarming situation.["]
"Some companies may think it difficult if not impossible for them to start a customer ownership financial program. My answer to that is to make every effort to put the financial structure of your company on a basis that will inspire public confidence in your securities, then ask your customers to supply the needed capital for new equipment and improved service. If a company is really servicing a community, it will find a ready response to such an appeal."
Business fell off in some sections with electric railways during the summer, Mr. Budd said, but it now is coming back. He attributed the slump to general business conditions.
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