The New York herald., 1864-10-02

mstroPs'its. Cenvsyaaees-rhs om.i-
bus Nutsancs.
Modern martyrdom may be sueclnotly defined
- riding in New York omnibus. The discom-
forts, inoonveniences and aauoyanoes OF trip
in ono Of these vehicles are almost intolerable.
From the beginning to the end Of the journey a
constant quarrel b progressing. The driver
quarrels with the passengers and the passen-
gers quarrel with tho driver. There are qua
rels about getting out and quarrels about get
ting in. There are quarrels about change and
quarrels about the ticket swindle. The driver
swears at the passengers and the passengers
harangue tho driver through the strap hoIe-a
position In which oven Demosthenes could not
be eloquent. Respectable clergymen in white
chokers are obliged 10 listen to loud oaths.
Ladies are disguised. frightened and insulted.
| Children are alarmed, and lit up their voices
and weep. Indignant gentlemen rise to remon-
strate with the irate Jehu, and are suddenly
bumped back into their seats. twice as indig-
nant as before, besides being involved in sup
Elementary quarrels With those other passen-
gers upon whose corns they have accidentally
trodden. Thus the omnibus rolls along, per-
feet Bedlam on wheels
1t is in vain that those who are obliged to
ride seek for relief in q city railway car. The
| cars are quietor than the omnibuses, but much
more crowded. People are packed into them
like sardines in box, with perspiration for oil.
The seats being moro than tilled, the passengers
| are placed in rows down the middle. where
they hang on by the straps. like smoked hams
in corner grocery. To enter or exit is exceed
| ingly difficult Silks and broadcloatb arc
ruined in the attempt. As in the omnibuses.
| pickpockets take advantage Of the confusion to
ply their vocation. Handkerchief, pocket
books, watches and breastpins disappear most
mysteriously. The foul, close, heated air is
poisonous healthy person cannot ride .
dozen blocks without headache. For these
reasons most ladies and gentlemen prefer to
ride in the stages which cannot be crowded so
outrageously, and which are pretty decently
ventilated by the cracks in the window frames.
The omnibus fare Is nearly double the car
fare, however, and so the majority Of the poo
pie are compelled to ride in the cars. although
they lose in health what they save in money.
But it must be evident to everybody that
neither the cars nor the stages supply ac-
commodaton enough for the public, aud that
such accommodations as they do supply are
not Of the right sort Both the cars and the
omnibuses might be very comfortable and
convenient if they were better managed; but
something more is needed to supply the popu-
lar and increasing demand for city convey
ances.
In London and Paris they have . cab system,
which is the very thing We require Such
system ought to be Immediately INTRODUCED
here, and those who frat invest in it will GER
tainly realize immense fortunes. The objec-
tion-and the only bjecton-commouly urged
against cabs is that they we're tried here
some years ago and were found wanting
But the New York of to-day is not the New
York of that period How public opinion
changes in such matters may be judged from
the fact that tho Londoners, who bitterly
opposed the street railways = few months
since, are now going to adopt them. This is
the very time, when everybody is dissatisfied
with the cars aud stages, to introduce the cab
system successfully. The fates will never be
more propitous. Some of the cars and omni-
buses may be retained, because they are
cheaper for long distances, but they must be
relieved Of the overpressure of passengers aud
they must be completely reformed The
present back system cannot do any
thing towards relieving them; for it is
already synonymous with extoFtion. The lum-
bcring, unwieldy and dirty hack carriages, the
poor, starved, slow hack horses, aud the inso-
lent, rapacious and ruffianly hack drivers Of
this city have become proverbial Bes ides
this the hack rates are two aud three dollars
while the cab rates would not he as many
dimes. SO long as the hacks remain it would
be good idea 70 make each driver hand his
passenger ticket inscribed with the number
Of the hack, as is done in Paris but the better
plan is to supersede the hacks with light
cabs. These vehicles are fast, strong and Sc
cure from accident Establish cab stands at
all the depots and public squares and place
the fares at moderate rate, and these cabs
will become the most popular institution in the
city. There is o fortune for them in the
Park alone. We call upon our capitalists to
think this matter over II is the best invest
ment we know Of at present In regard to
public conveyanoes this metropolis has been
too long behind the age
NJ