The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-25
RIDING ON TnE RAIL.
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STREET RAILROADS AS A SYSTEM
View of Their INteriO7'
Machinery.
=. W., IsF7..He7 a.
SKETCHES OF THE LEADING ROADS.

mount among the diverse necessities originated by
the progression is that OF rapid locomotion. But
until science realizes as an accomplished fact that
man. like the gossamer, can ride the atmos rhere-
when the rich and poor VIII all wear wings-we
must content ourselves with prosaic whrl upon
terra yi,nld. Owing to this materialistc tendency
our civilization Is constantly summOning into
active being occupations and callings.
Prominent among these, and one not devoid
OF interest as 1t Is prominent III importance
Is the present subject CT our sketchsreet railways.
In the qualifications OF its system and the intricacy
OF us operation 1t has originated calling verg.
ing on 10 a profession, and the accomplished rail
ROAD man OF to-day should De dignided as pro-
fessonal Street railroads have become an indis-
pensabe institution In all the large cities OF the en-
lightened world, and propose TO take peep into
the plan OF their internal organization. We Will Sc
lect for the subject OF our Investigations the two
principal roads OF this city, which Will be far critic
ria to Judge OF the system.
THE INTERNAL ORGANISM.
Besides the usual administrative officers common
to all private corporations railway companies en-
plOy multitude OF other unciionares as accessory
to their management These will embrace superln-
tendents, foremen OF the stables, repair, blacksmith
ana harness shops, receivers paymastcrs. road mas
tiers, starters tlUs-spotters conductors, drivers,
hostlers. switchmen and others.
STREET RAILWAYS AS INVESTMENTS.
Viewed as pecunlary enterprises they assume
rled aspects. AS rule they are the property OF
porators, and generally regarded exceedingly
investments but will doubtless surprise the
public when 1t Is announced tnat there are but
four lines out Of seventeen IN this city
which return any dividend. Bur in these
exceptional cases the yeid of profit for the amount
OF capital invested is extraordinary. The Eighth
Avenue Railroad pays certain annual dividend
upon the actual value of It's stock Of upwards Of
twelve per cent In addition a considerable sum is
expended in extensions, improvements and the
acquisitions OF property. which materially and regu
lary enhances the value OF the stock. The original
amount of capital stock of this company was
$4,000, which mas since been increased to
ST. 900 00o The gross receipts Of last year do not
tall far snort OF 100000. Ihe holders oil this stock
rarely oder it for sale, ana when occasionally It
does lind Its way INTO the market there
are always eager purchasers. Generally the
only occasions which induce sales at the
settlements OF the estates OF deceased persons when
the STOCK Is offered at auction, and has brought $l60
10 1855 per share. Almost all the stock Of this
pany Is the property OF MIR. George Law. The capt.
tl stock OF the Third Avenue Railroad is $l170,0 coo,
Che original amount designated by It's charter. This
stock IS tightly held that IL is rare for one hundre
shares TO change hands during year. The number
Ul SlOcknpldtTS are gradually uecre tslig. DIl the
stock Il quietly transferred to the hands OF the
original corporators, and seldom nnds its way to
outsiders. Dividends are paid quarterly, a mater
OF course, no notice beng gwen and, 10 the
pressive words OF Mr. Arthur. tine secretary, ''tne
stockholders come for their dividends On quarter
day regularly people generally take Their din
nersn Ine price obtained for this stock the last
sale was $3.50 per share The principal holders
are Messrs. William Remsen henry r. Rem
sen. john B. Hobby Henry Hart, Maltby G. Lane
and William NJ. Tweed.
TIE THIRD AvESuE RAILROAD.
The principal line in the United States is that OF
the Third Avenue Company. II received It's charter
during the year 1853. which authorized II 10 con-
struct It's line from he Aston House TO Harlem. a
Instance OF eight miles The terms OF the charter
permitted charge five cents to Sixy-hrs street
AMI one cent additional 10 any point beyond. This
Is The lowest are II the world FOR the privilege OF
travelling eight miles, and doubtless the motive
wnicn insgated the corporaiors TO petition Tor that
10 rate OF compensation was poiillc one, as the
Second Avenue Company gra authorized a
charge OF ten cents. The revenue cerved from The
line terminating at Sxts-irst street has been gully
remunerauve but the intervening dstan c OF three
and one-hali miles to Harem was source VI loss,
and remains so sllil.
PUBLIC BgNEFAcuoN
At the Inception OF the enterprise the su Eros OF
the ely were but sparse!y populated, and II 5 conf
perry above Slxty-lirst street, resulting from the
construction OF this roa', the city has been benede
ton. But for this low rate OF fare II would have
been Impossible Tor the denizens of those localities
TO have migrated there.
TIE NUMBER or TRAVELLERS.
There are daily transported on THIS line
to lorkv!le and Harlem over 1900 per-on-. The
great bulh OF thus travel is between The hours
OF ana 10 A. NJ, and and 7. Nj. Daly
there are $1,000. and during tlns month generally
$4,000 persons who are conveyed over some portion
Of this route The increased travel curing the present
month Is owing to the return OF summer excursion
lists, who engage IN making fail purchases.
THE tACElSEKY OF TEAyEL.
From quarter past seven ~ VI. until thirtY-two
minutes past SIX " M. rs cars a e ran al minute
quarter past four until six minutes past five Z.
Mat Intervals O. three-quarter minutes. The cars
minutes TO reach The Park. The time allowed he
tween The Park and Harlem Il one hour and twenty
minutes. Tue company own 100 horses ana en-
CONDUCTORS AND DRIVERS.
Conductors and drivers are paid daily, or rather
Oh Their last trip The conductor, out OF his receipts,
pays the driver and himself The rate OF compensY-
ton Is - 70 or 81 50 per den according to the
Der Of miles travelled; but the payment l. made
according to tue number OF trips at the rate of
thirty-seyen and half cents eacn, and SIX trips is
geckoned a day But this refers only 10 tho e eng
poyed on the snort route, From Harlem to the Astor
House is counted four lull trips and "run on
which means cars co ming rom lariem and detained
for the night at the depot but tins Will cease wh
the completion OF the structure IN OF cree
ilon at Harlem, when the Harlem cars will remain
there. The pay for these trips IS 1ty-seycn and a
.alf cents. Staolemen receive 81 IS per diem. For
emergencies fifty TO one hundred extra drivers and
conductors are retained. The companies are adj
verse 10 green drivers, as IL requires considerable
experience and skill TO control the brake aud horses.
Veteran stage drivers fell TO become good drivers
IL Is supposed owing TO the fact hat the brake re-
qures The driver 10 keep one hand paced upon IL
ready u check ine Car nj the instant No mariner
is wary OF shoals than ear driver OF the perls
Of travelling Chatham street. The Thra avenue Is
The main artery OF the city, ana the road Is con-
stantly ;raversed by trucks rom the en-.
Niron5, Second avenue being only partially
paved. Hence green drivers are rarely employed
and never unless Indispensable. Some drivers and
conductors nave been IN the employ OF the Ihiro
Avenue Company FOR liteen years. Drivers seldom
become conductors. and are constantly subject to
the direction Of the conductor, with whom they asso
cate. Trey are appointed by the superintendent.
THE TiME-sPoTTER
Each company employs a ubiquitous parsonage
called ''lne spptter,n whose duty ~ 10 travel con-
staltly over the line OF tie road AMI report ali con-
dnctors delinquent in ne.ecung instructions rs to
time. II Is sometimes the practice OF conductors TO
loter In order 10 pick up passengers III violation of
the rules and TO the deirlment OF Ofher cars: for