The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-14
Sketches by the Way and Observations
Of Horse Railroad Management.
KNOCKING DOWN AS A FINE ART.
q Conductor Whose Dishonesty Was the Best
Poliey-The Broadway Cars in Greene
Ssreet-Hevelations Pointing at Fraud
and Corruption = uggestions
for Legislative Soloas

D
sketch OF the general management and manner OF
working OF the Broadway road. This corporation
Is wealthy but theless is as indIerent 10 the
Interests or the public and as graspng as the Thru
avenue, already noticed. Il has the merit OF pro-
vldlng cleaner aud better cars than the Third ave-
nue. but In all other respects 1t Is as deserving OF
censure. 1t is quite IT he that all the principal city
lines are oyerworked and that for the great evil OF
insufficient accommodation for passengers The COM
panies are not altogether TO blame. Until the veXed
problem OF rapid steam transit from the lower TO
the upper part OF the city is satisfactorily solved
there viii be uttered incessant complaints OF horse
Car accommodation and management. But While
til Is true II oilers no excuse for the neglect OF or
binary precautions against
RUFFIANIsM oN THE LINES,
veXatous delays ana the innumerable aDnnyances
passengers are constantly subjected to- The crowd
Inc OF The cars might easily be obvlared by the SIM
PIE means OF substituting cross seats Tor the side
benches now IN use-thaT is seats made on the
plan OF those IN steam cars, railing IN the front and
a better arrangement OF the end platform. The
only valid objection that could be. made
TO this would come from the railroad companies ana
be in the form OF plea for the public; for 1t would
De urged tnat W the plan proposed, it would be
impossible to carry all the people desiring TO ride
M or down town IN the busy hours OF the morning
and evening. But the cars might be built longer
and lighter, and twice or thrice as many put on as
now serve the purpose of the companies. Then
too, by having the longer it would be possible
TO heat them. II IS not likely however, that any OF
the fat railroad corporations VIII heed any sugges-
tons which TO adopt would require additional eN-
Iendltme of money. unless the Legislature, soon to
convene, lnlerposes IT. authority.
THE BROADWAY LIVE
OF horse cars runs from the Astor House to the
Central PARK skirng The great CITY artery to Four
teenth street, where 1t joins and continues until
broadway crosses seventh avenue. From the depot
al Fortyiourth street the line extends 10 the PARK.
jumping IN one OF the cars OF this road at the cor
ner OF broadway and Barclay street yesterday,
HERALD reporter ensconced himself in corner
aud prepared to take a few mental notes before
reaching the depot ana entering upon his lnvesJl2a
lion Vi the management OF the road.
me ..starter,' young man, dressed q Ia Tam
many, whsiled slirllly; the conductor stepped on
the platform aud pulled the strap the bell rang the
driver made desperate effort 10 put the horses on
their launches, and failing III that let them go
snofting on their way. There We're not many pas.
sclgers in the car and the reporter mad fair OPP
poiiunty oil examining the seats and the floor.
Apparently
THE RED COVERED CUSHIONS
were clean though that was no guarantee OF Inte-
concealed vast number oil lively dcadheads,
whose iares theconduclor might well decline to col
latter gentleman, who INDUCED III frequent confer
ences with the driver, Ignoring, the WINE, the dis.
There Is always plcntY of air IN wlnterl In The
Broadway cars. And THIS is not an unmixed evil;
juice ana other dirt accumulated during the day..
ants floor was rce1ing with lth; little pools OF
mating, while broad sireaks OF matter spread
under the feet OF the passengers. nice conveyance
Tor ladies', iruls
Turning into Church street the Car was brought to
q dead STOP lar a dozen or more cars blocked the
way. An impatient gentleman got out ana walked.
Alter a delay OF some minutes we went on again;
then stopped then went lorward and finally, Win
mach cursng ana swearing on the parl OF tie
carmen and trucAmen, turned into Canal street,
SWITCHED INTO GREENE STREET.
Looking out through the window under The arm
of the driver the reporter saw that eight or ten
Broadway ears were following one another up this
aDomnaoie thoroughlare AT a quiet walk. Subse-
auent inquiry eliciied an explanation or this sngu-
lar circumstances. II Is, 1t seems the rule TO walk
The horses through Greene street on the upward
Tuute for the double purpose of picking uD passen
gers aud allowing INC drivers aud conductors
wno ply their internal trade shamelessy and openly
III ne houses on either side OF the street. AS the
.'chatlng' is not conducted III whispers, as may
well be imagined, the discomfort oil the ladies
have to SIT In the cars and listen to the ribad
talk is exceedingly great. And now much more
eXasperatlng Il II wnen ladies' are accompanied by
grown up children. The scenes at night are more
Icpusive than during the day; but ut all times the
e} ami ear met with sights ana sounds OF the
most Disgusting character. OF COARSE, anu Tor oo-
yious reasons there Is less OF this IN winter put
even now there Is 100 much o, 1t. The driver on
this car exchanged compliments ana curses and
laughed uproariously a he let his horses walk. IL
was rehef wnen EIGHTH street was reached and
the car turned down into University place. From
this point the journey mp town was devoid OF pccu
liar Int rest, other than that found III examining
The faces OF The passengers passing in ana out.
arrived at The depot around which crowd Of
feet and clapnng their hands, III tie eadcavor TO
keep taer blood in circulation tue reporter looked
around 10 lind some one capable oil and willing to
give him tue information he required In
ONE OF TIE LorEUERS
lie discovered man dressed IN thick, white over
4Dul md ~ a pa.
Dized as a conductor he had had many 4 chat with
while gong up town from the HERALD ONCE late at
night. The conductor was equally quick anu came
''conl day. sir What NAV yc be after now, look.
ing Tor the Grand Jukegn ana then ne rubbed his
hands and smiled all over his expansive and rudtly
lace.
and the Duke l. gone from Gotham; why are you not
al work to-day r'
want 10 Know, honest? I'll tell 70 all about it;
put 1t IN the HERALD. But, say We can't get any
news nout here. I'm goin' down town suppose we
come along and wei talk in tue carr
A car was lust passing, ana the ruddy faced man
jumped III and the reporter followed. There were
just TWO seats vacant near the upper door.
SAY said tue conductor OF duty SAY, gon' to
wriie about this ere line Good enough. III tell
We my case and then yc ken make what ye like Of
ii. le see was several years on this line as con-
ductor and faith 1t wasn't bad Disness while It
lasted cut sc see got too well OIL ana hung myself
around. | thought myself
BETTER THAN rHE STARTERS AND SPOILERS
and sich an wouldnit give a man OF 'em a cent"
''You were 50 well on that you could AFFORD to be
II thought so, at all events. And there was
howl, YOU bet Nothin' could he got out of me, and
was discharged Hang the discharge any way.
I ken do better outside OF those Fellows, ken.'
.Oh, see. How arc things worked on tins line I"
aWel III tell We. But what ] say does not
Germ this road particularly. When q conductor IS
put on road he mas 20 wait his turn before getting
/: car: 1t nav be n month or SIX weeks before he Is
regularly on. Hell nave 10 know the ropes or hell
be shelvcd before ne Knows 1t. Hell have 10 be
thief from the start or leave tue road MS pay Is
81 To 81 q per day. out OF that sum he must pay
Inc driver rom 81 to So day; the starter lie has 10
Concntaie IN various ways. lump ol stamps ls
better tian drinks ard cigars, though drinks and
Cipars nave good deal OF influence on the roads;
ana men the 'spotior' has TO get SIS every week.'
Wly 90 the conductors allow themselves TO be
imposed on In TINS way Z"
"Why2 Because they can't heIp IT, II they don't
pay the driver the driver Wul not stop for pas
Al they don't have
DEAL WITH THE STARTER
the starter VIII fix Inn somehow You see the
driver stuD behind ftn,o m ~, h,..ni :, ~