Douglas Daily Dispatch

PICKWICK LINE PUTS LARGER STAGE INTO USE

Pickwick stages have grown in size - at least those which now pass through Douglas have grown. The change was made in the stages making the trip yesterday and where they had been of the 18 to 22 passenger type they are now of the 30 passenger type. Furthermore, the service now is through from Phoenix to El Paso without change, a new policy on the part of the operating company.

The change was made, according to Ralph H. Caughlan, local manager, because of the heavy increase in the traffic. The through traffic has shown a marked increase, Caughlan states, and it was in order to handle that more satisfactorily that the larger stages were placed in service.

The trips will be started from Phoenix and El Paso on the same hours as has been the rule and time card arrivals will continue as they were, the only change being the stage itself. The stages will be serviced and inspected at Douglas as they travel each way. Drivers will be changed here, also. As has been the case, stages will take gas at their usual stations.

The running time between Phoenix and El Paso is 29 hours for the 530 miles. It is the statement of the local manager that the Pickwick business which now extends from coast to coast through friendly operating lines at many points and through its own operation by way of Indianapolis has enjoyed a phenomenal growth during the coming summer season and some of it already is in sight. There is a party of 500 tourists coming into Arizona within the next few weeks on a sight seeing tour, but it is understood that group will not pass through Douglas.