001C97BA THE WEST VAN NEWS July 26, 1929. v i&l UN ICI PAL TRANSPORTATION The AIunicipality of )Vest Van- couver stands in a unique posi- tion with reference to matters of transportation. With perhaps one exception (Nelson, B. C.), it is the only municipality in the Province which owns, supports, and controls its own transporta- tion system. The city of North Vancouver owns its own ferries, but has no municipally connnected trans- portation system by road. EVest Vancouver enjoys the advantage of using feeders to its own boats in the form of motor bus- ses, which in size and comfort are unequalled by any other sim- i)ar bus system in Canada. As in, most cases of public ownership, the Public reaps the benefit of its own system, at least to the point of absorbing and spreading costs of any de- ficits; that is to say. that fares are rigidlv held down to an op- erating margin, as it has never been the intention to establish a revenue producer at the ex- pense of a traveller, who is also a shareholder in the company. Any possible margin of profit is returned for the purchase and upkeep of more modern equip- ment, as this system demands an up-to-the-minute service. Constructive suggestions are al- ways welcome from the citizens, and if the expense is reasonable, and the project feasible, any im- provement in the system is glad- ly undertaken. No transportation system can hope to operate successfully un- less equipped with the best type of rolling stock, which must be kept in good condition. An article recently appeared in the Satur- day Evening Post, dealing with railway transportation in Eur- ope, and unreservedly commend- ing British lines for the splen- did condition of their rolling stock and the excellent main- tainance of speed and schedule. These three qualities are the foundations on which the pres- ent system of municipal trans- portation in West Vancouver has been built, and every care has been taken in the supervision of all departments. All boats and busses are kept in first class condition both as to appearance and preservation, they being regularly overhauled, and painted once a year. EVhen a vessel or bus has served its use- fulness or no longer meets com- petition of more modern equip- ment, it is sold, broken up, or reconditioned to such an extent as to be made modern in every detail. The excellence of a large trans- portation system depends much upon the management and de- partmental employees. A mem- ber of the Council is appointed annually as Chairman of Trans- portation, whose duty it is to direct the policy of the Ferry Company. Councillor 4V. J. Jack- man is chairman of the trans- portation committee for the pres- ent year. But an active man- ager is in full charge, and the employees must look to him for orders. Captain A. N. Edwards, the present superintendent, has grown old in the service of the Municipality, though by his sporting activities he still claims youth in his favor. It is even stated that some thirty-five years ago he caught salmon off Navvy Jack's Point. Because of his charming manner of courtesy and affability, Captain Edwards is highly respected both by resi- dents and thousands of visitors who have occasion to use the Municipal Ferries.. All depart- ments work in harmony, and there are no times when Captain Edwards could not assume the position of skipper, mate, deck- hand, engineer, oy bus drive~', and in cases of emergency he has often been seen in all of these capacities. The AIunicipal Ferries were started some years later than those on the North Vancouver run and maiiitain a half-hourly :ervice with two boats, which is augmented by a third boat dur- ing the rush hours when a 20- minute service is in effect. The trip of four miles through the First Narrows between Vancou- i er City and the )Vest Vancouver landing at Ambleside, is an inti- mate introduction to the busy harbor entrance and the bold shores of Stanley Park. Oil-engined ferries, which maintain a speecl of about ten knots to cope with the strong currents of the Narrows, are used on this run. They carry passengers only, having no space for vehicles. The largest boat is West Vancouver No. 6 which i.'icensed to carry 282 persons in summer time z.nd somewhat loess in winter. The boats on the regular half hourly service are the steadiest running craft on this coast. They cover a dist- ance equal to about twice around the world every year. The Son- risa, launched in 1912, has cov- ered a distance of about three quarters of a million miles. )Vest Vancouver being almost exclusively residential district, the heavy traffic is in the morn- ing and evening on week days. On holidays and Sundays the ferries carry large numbers of hikers, who often take along snowshoes and skis to enjoy the winter sports when there is snow cn the mountains. The regular captains on the boats have been in this ferry service for about twelve to four- teen years, and previously had been seafaring in many parts of the world. They have the navi- gation of First Narrows reduced to as near an exact science as is possible in a channel with strong tides and frequently crowded with other., shipping. Captain J. Watson, the senior skipper, in his seventeenth year with these ferries has travellecl about 500,- 000 miles. Captains D. Lunn, D. Smith and H. Skeet are not far behind Captain watson. in their experience of the Narrows, and after their several years making five and six thousand passages a year through the Narrows, they begin to take on a familiar appearance. Captains Taylor and Vince act as relieving mast- ers when necessary for their weekly clay off and other holi- days, and several of the other and extra mates have coasting passenger masters'ertificates as well. H. Thompson, the senior eng- ineer, has seen the longest ser- vice of any of the employees of the ferries, having been on this run before the ferry service was taken over by the Municipal ty. Other engineers who run the boats are R. Pyne, J. Hunt, J. Davis, J. D. Thompson and W. F. Merrick. Besides th ecrews of the boats, the drivers of three, sixty-pas- senger busses, which carry pas- sengers from the boats as far as EVest Bay, three miles to the westward, are included among the twenty-five employees of the )Vest Vancouver Municipal Fer- ry Company. Since these boats have been equipped with the most modern developments in propelling ma- chinery in the last two years, all the engineers have now qualified to operate Diesel engines. Captain A. N. Edwards, the Ferry Manager, says traffic shows a steady increase year by year. Last year the total of passengers carried on the boats was 794,709 and approximately 500,000 on the bus service. The equipment of the Ferry Company is constantly being ad- ded to in order to meet the de- mands of increased passenger traffic. Its continued prosperity assures citizens and visitors of the maximum accomodation for those who must come and go to the City. In the past, a full measure of support has been given by the residents, and in addition thousands of visitors en- joy the trip because of the beau- ties above described. An opinion is expressed that the possible building of the First Narrows Bridge would have little effect upon the transportation system. In other parts of the world, such as over the Clyde, passengers may go and come without charge and yet a ferry system is always pi'ofitable, as being the quickest and most direct route between two points. If the proposed bridge is finally erected Vancou- ver would thus be brought in touch with the North Shore, and in the rapid development which would follow, the Ferry System would undoubtedly reap its share. But until that day when new problems must be faced, EVest Vancouver may rightly boast of a publicly owned system of boats ancl busses, which in comfort, cleanliness, and safety are as much a surprise to the visitors as is the twenty-minute journey, with its ever-changing panorama of mountain, sea and forest. The drivers of the Municipal busses are carefully picked for their ability in handling cars with dexterity, and the elimina- tion of all danger to pedestrians and passengers. The quick act- ion and prompt service rendered by these busses might well add credit to a transportation system of greater magnitude. THE FERRY TRIP TO BLUEST VANCOUVER The Municipal Ferry System is unique in that it has some- thing to offer the Public other than carrying the masses of people from point to point. The twenty-minute trip from wharf to wharf is one which, in its grandeur as to scenic beauty, i~ould be a fitting subject for artist or poet. Starting the Eastward bound trip in the early morning one sets his face to the rising sun, and one is inspired by the thought that everything that grows turns its face to the sun, and the effect of the sun- risings and sunsets as seen from the EVest Vancouver ferries is al- most beyond literary description. Even advancing on the drab solemn business-like wall of ware-houses and places of busi- ness, which line the City harbor, old Sol gives heart with his gold- en splendor, and wakes the trav- eller's desire to face the day with new hope and new vitality. On the return trip the scene, in its peaceful setting, beckons one home to the rest and quiet of the fire-side, "far from the madding ciowd" and riel of the toils of the clay. On the westward trip the t& aveller may depict the develop- ment of a great world shipping port, and receives some small idea of the business conducted by these silent men of the Mer- chant Mai ine who go down to the sea in ships, and whose vent- uresome spirit has played sucli a part in the building of our Em- pire. Here we see the products of forest, mines, and farms be- ing silently borne to the markets of the world. There we see the mighty Empress discharging its rich cargoes of silk, which our women folk deservedly wish to add to the beauty of person and home. Over there we see tall timbers disappearing into huge vats to be reproduced later into a finished article, and to stand the wear and tear of a century. Thus, delving into the romance of History we are suddenly brought face to face with the beauties of the Lions'ate. Brockton Point is all too quickly lost to view when a glimpse of the Lumberman's Arch reminds us of the peaceful and happy days of 1911, when such arches were built to welcome the Duke of Connaught, the then Govern- or-General of Canada. On the right may be seen the Indian Settlement of Capilano, and soon we are at the mouth of the river that takes its name from this famous tribe. On the left, rising high above, looms the solid rock of prospect Point, from which go forth signs to mariners of ap- proaching dangers, and one is led to hope that at this point will be forged another link with the great Hinterland to the North,through the construction (Continued on Page 9) %k» 3 //X&' 4 4 4 ~ & C. )| Cg I yyest vancouver has a Splendid Fleet of Municipal Busses and Ferries