How Edwardian Fraudsters Pulled The Plug On The Electric Bus And Left Our Cities In The Hands Of Big Oil

A Most Deliberate Swindle: How Edwardian Fraudsters Pulled the Plug on the Electric Bus and Left Our Cities Gasping for Breath

by Mick Hamer

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1571 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	240 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

In the early 1900s, electric buses were seen as the future of public transportation. They were clean, quiet, and efficient. But a group of fraudsters pulled the plug on the electric bus, leaving our cities in the hands of Big Oil.

The story begins in New York City in 1905. At the time, the city's public transportation system was dominated by horse-drawn buses. But a new technology was on the horizon: the electric bus.

Electric buses were seen as a major improvement over horse-drawn buses. They were faster, more reliable, and more comfortable. And they didn't produce any emissions, which made them much cleaner for the city's air.

Several companies began to operate electric buses in New York City. One of the most successful was the Fifth Avenue Coach Company. In 1907, the company launched a fleet of 60 electric buses on Fifth Avenue.

The electric buses were a huge success. They were popular with riders and they helped to reduce traffic congestion in the city. But their success was short-lived.

In 1909, a group of fraudsters known as the "traction trust" began to buy up the electric bus companies in New York City. The traction trust was led by a man named Thomas Fortune Ryan.

Ryan was a ruthless businessman who was determined to control the city's public transportation system. He saw electric buses as a threat to his monopoly, so he set out to destroy them.

Ryan and his associates used a variety of手段 to undermine the electric bus companies. They spread rumors about the buses' safety and reliability. They bribed city officials to pass laws that made it difficult for the buses to operate.

And they even sabotaged the buses themselves. In one case, they cut the power cables that supplied the buses with electricity.

The traction trust's efforts were successful. By 1912, all of the electric bus companies in New York City had been driven out of business.

The demise of the electric bus was a major setback for public transportation in New York City. It left the city with a transportation system that was dominated by gasoline-powered buses.

And it gave Big Oil a stranglehold on the city's energy supply. For decades to come, New York City would be dependent on石油 for its transportation needs.

The story of the electric bus is a cautionary tale about the dangers of corporate greed and corruption. It is a reminder that even the best technologies can be derailed by those who are willing to use dishonest手段 to achieve their goals.

Lessons Learned

The story of the electric bus offers several valuable lessons for today.

1. Be wary of corporate monopolies. Monopolies can use their power to stifle innovation and raise prices.
2. Don't be afraid to challenge the status quo. If you see something that is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up.
3. Support sustainable technologies. Electric buses and other sustainable technologies can help us to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and create a cleaner future.

The electric bus is a reminder that we must never give up on our dream of a clean and sustainable future.

A Most Deliberate Swindle: How Edwardian Fraudsters Pulled the Plug on the Electric Bus and Left Our Cities Gasping for Breath

by Mick Hamer

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1571 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	240 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE