New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-28
The Car Accident on Camp street.

The Magazine and Prytania street line,
each send out an accommodation car, start
ing from Canal street at fifteen minutes
after midnight. This arrangement is very
pleasant TO many people who reside on OF
near the streets mentioned, and pays the
car companies, but it is rather tough Oh the
drivers. The man who engineers the late
car must be up in the morning abou. half
past six O'Clock, get his breakfast and then
take his car at about seven O'Clock. He re-
rains on duty until noon. when he has an
hoar for dinner Once more hs takes the
line, and for supper has another hour, after
which he has ne rest until his car IL turned
in about ono O'Clock in the morning. It will
be seen that his waking time IL nearly all
employed, being on actual duty fully si1-
teen hours. During that time he must act
az conductor, driver and instructor. all for
the immense sum Of s55, provided he boards
himself. Ifthe company provides his meals
he receives S35 per month. and it may be
remarked that the company meals are not
very fat. Under such circumstances
drivers can rot be expected to hold their
employers in great respect. though
this poorer ones may entertain = certain
awe for those wealthy ,aen who hire their
services. The life Of car driver is not
one to be envied, as he has numerous OBJ.
jectionable things Co contend with during
every hour he is on his Car. and is in con-
slant fear that something will happen to
bring down on him severe censure from the
foreman. Ills actions are closely watched.
and inside his car is posted card impu
IDENTIFY requesting passengers to act as in.
formers on him, offering an impossible re-
ward for detection and conviction for dere.
lictien. Closely scrutinizing the acts Of an
employs is tot Objectionable. but when
oficlous spies report on the smallest action
of drivers. TO the extent Of mean annoy
ance, then men will rebel and gro vi as loud
a. abused sailors. ending in entertaining a
heartfelt contempt for employers.
Men who are actively engaged sixteen
hours out OF the twenty-four, day after day,
month after month, must finally grow care
loss or Indifferent about their dnties, and it
was not wonderful that the terrible acci-
dent of Saturday night happened, when an
aged man was crippled for life. The old
man who had charge of the Prytania street
car on that occasion has been on that line
for years, and this reporter can testify that
ne was almost invariably careful and atten-
tive, having gone up with kim on the last
car hundreds of times. On the night in
question the driver could hardly have been
sleeping, as he was making change for a
passenger only few minutes before the
collision took place. However, lie was
wrong in being so close to the Magazine
street car, his instructions being to keep at
least one half square distant from the one
in front. Then, both mule and driver were
anxious to reach the stable, seeking rest
from tedious days toll. Those who ride
in street cars at late hours will not blame
drivers for making haste to end the jour
ney. but the community will not look at
such things with the same eye as directors
do. The companies can in part prevent ac'
cidents by placing more drivers on the
roads, thus permitting the men to rest
themselves as many hours as other working
man do