Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1908 — BIG BUS WAR IS INSTITUTED [ARTICLE]

BIG BUS WAR IS INSTITUTED

Duvall Bros. Bay Bus and Claim Exclusive Right to Makeever Hotel Business. A war has been instituted in omnibus circles, Duvall Bros., * backed by John Makeever, have purchased a fine new: bus and entered into competition with 1 Frank Kresler, who a few months agry bought Out the Joe Jackson bus line, The new bus line is the result of the reopening of the Nowels House, by Warren Robinson and J. H. Chapman, under the management of August Rosenbaum, and it is said there was considerable early discussion between Mr. Rosenbaum and'both Kreeler and Duvall as to which would receive the contract to haul passengers to the new hotel, and finally Kresler was given the privilege. He had aldo expected to retain the Makeever Hotel business and having three busses was admirably prepared to do it, but Mr. Makeever desired to have an exclusive bus running to his hotel and accepted a proposition from Duvalls to put one in. The Duvall bus arrived Saturday and did business on Sunday, but as there was no business from the traveling public on that day there was no clash between the bus owners, but on Monday morning there was a good stream of traveling men, and both hack lines were on hand to do business. Kresler, in charge of one of the busses, backed up in front of the Makeever Hotel as usual and Uncle John Makeever ordered him away. He said he would not go *untll train .time and continued to hoJd his postAlon, which was the only one where the snow had been dug out enough to permit a vehicle to be backed to the walk. When the 9:55 train arrived each bus got a part of the business and Kresler reached the Makeever Hotel first and took his usual place, and the Duvall bus with Big Ed and Little Ed on the seat, backed up alongside the Kresler bus into a snow bank. A moment later Kresler pulled out to take a passenger or two to the Other hotel and Duvall pulled out from the snow bank and backed into the opening Kresler had occupied and held it until time to go to the train. When Kresler returned he backed into the snow drift and after the 10:55 was in Duvall got back to the hotel first and secured the vantage point. Quite a crowd gathered about the court house corner and along the street to see what might happen, but the combatans restrained themselves, and nothing serious happened. It is said Mr. Makeever will undertake to secure an Injunction preventing Kresler from backing up there and representing himself as the bus driver for that hotel, and it is also said that Mr. Kresler has already ascertained that he has the legal right to back his bus in front of the hotel If he wishes to do it. Of course, the real fight now is between the twfo hotels and it is apt to he a long drawn out one. There is no question of rates, for the established one of 25 cents for the round trip is everywhere agreed to be a very fair and considerate one. and the public, getting no benefit from the competition, will be pleased to see it quickly and amicably adjusted. ,