The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-28

tic and mileage mar become somewhat modified.
Rut At present, as an honest chronicler l can
only say OF him that ne 10 wonder and fear.
now TIE .cABBIEsn ARE CONTROLLED.
To DO the police justice there Is one part or their
duty IN connection WITH the cab world which they
DO really most eftcently ana carefully discharge.
But Tor their panstaKlng attention 10 duty maay
accidents would or necessity occur An ot1cer 4
appointed 10 cover q certain district, within the
linlts Of which he thoroughly examines every
hackney carriage which Plies Tor hIre, Diminishing
nom the rank such vehicles rs are unit for the
pubic service. But, as there WAS or old q cave OF
Adullam wherein such as were In debt, such a.
were IN distress and such as were bitter Of soul
might safely gather 80 there Is IN the YORK road,
London, place OF refuge Tor such Of the cab-drly.
ing fraternity as are especially weak in point OF
norsenesh or especially ramsnackle with respect
TO shafts and wheels. IL is fact not at all well
known TO LondoRers themselves that in q forlorn
and drearY Held of thai ork road there IL Il daily
congregation Of the worst cabs IN London, a
gathering oil the rejec.cd OF the plblic ranks.
Who receives the fees know not, but charge
OF one penny is made before any vehicle ID per-
these deplorape conyeyances may be hired at the
customary rates. Tney ply on no cab stand, aud
there lore, outside the rule or Scotland Yard
Grumo, describing his masters mount, In the
sraming OF the 9hrew,p has nit upon no disease,
misfortune or shortcomlng common 10 horsehesh
wnicn Is not eXemp lified by one animal or other
In that field Off the York road. Sterne, III that
charming chapter in "Fhe Sentimental Journey"
wherein he details the story OF his purchase oil 4
carriaoe when route for Rouen has Indicated
no condition OF vehlcuar breakdown which -
not there illustrated. III the ghosts OF the sad and
sorrowful among horse dealers and Gao builders
walkany " here surely they walk that doleful field
THE GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY.
London lives IN such a perpetual condition OF
hurry that Its cab accommodation, ample as 1t
might SEEM is sufficient Tor scarcely q tthe OF Its
requirements We boast tne possession oil l.4SO
public vehicles OF another character. TGose ve-
hices were long ago Named by happy lnspita-
tion, omnbuses. the jovlai Briton guiltless Ior
the most part OF any knowledge OF the CLASSIC
tongues, is content to abbreyiate the descriptive
term omnibus" TO the unmeaning term '"ous,"
but with the Cockney, as indeed with the lnhaO.
liant Of all large towns mere, tpe 'Dus - great
Institution. Ii Is somewhat unWeldy vehicle,
and as rule ls constructed 10 carry sN-and-
twenty passengers Toward every great centre OF
traffic IN London these ponderons carriages travel
from early morning until midnight, ndlfom these
centres they radlate ia every direction. Tue GEN
eraI Omnibus Company is responsible for most OF
them, ana according to thar cumpany's last hall
yearly report 1t alone employs 500 horses anu
holds working stock valued at G60l 1854. Its in
vestmenls III government and other stock are
over three quarters OF million sterling. and the
number or passengers conveyed by 1t during the
year 1874 were nearly nlty miHlons.
ITEMS OF COST.
The cost of horses renewal IN the last half year
was over 100000, and an economy OF G1 800 was
effected by restricting the use OF beans to SICK
horses and others needing especial care. The in-
crease IN the cost OF proyender lor single year,
owing TO rise IN the price Of nay, amountea 10
no less than 600 los. Cd. Tue Discerning
reader Will again perceive that we are rather in
large way OF business IN tnls metropolis
TRAMwAY CARS
The employment OF tramway cars in London Is
q new feature OF the metropolitan trafilc, and
not altogether popular one. There are at pres
ent three tramway companies, none OF winch
have far. been permitted 10 enter the city
proper. 1t Is doubtful whether 1t VIII ever ne
held eXpedient to admit them, for, despite or all
attempts 10 relieve the overcro wded streets
London up TO this time remains, as the hospital
returns only too sadly and too readily prove.
very dangerous place to go about IN. aud the
quiet, swift and smo0th-golng Uam-car Is but
new element OF danger. The maximum numrer
carried by these cars Is forty-sIx. In dlstrlcts
where the streets lie at considerable gradient the
conveyances are OF lighter and smaller build.
THE LICENSE SYSTEM.
Every driver aud conductor Is compelled to APP
nIv annuaiiy ut tne Hackuey Carriage Department
at The Central Police once at Scotland Yard Tor a
renewal vi the license IN virtue oil which he holds
his ofiice. The authorities at Scotland Yard are,
like most official authorities, jealous of publicity,
but may say that the amount received by them
yearly Tor licenses granted - over E25 900, and that
an average OF 1898 new men have. during the
past ten years. annually presented themselves
with applications TO be licensed. rue badge dis
playing the numper OF Inc license granted i worn
by eacn omnibus driver, hackney carriage driver
aud omnibus conductor. IL speaks well for the
men that the number VINO forfeit tails badge grows
yearly smaller. complaint or drunkenness. OF
reckless or furious driving, or OF any especial IN
clvllity brings nne and maglsterIal caution,
and two magisterial cautions mean forfeiture.
Tue Omnibus and tram-car drivers NUMBER 2.469.
Tue conductors number a62l. The number OF cab
drivers brings up the total OF men employed 10
IL, 3A The lo5t licenses OF last year were S2b, and
II Will perhaps be admitted that all things con-
sidered, the Aum of misoehaviors ls q small one.
THE GILMAN AN ENGLISH CREATURE.
Considered personally, the London caoby Is q
Thoroughly English creature. SO Is the London
'Dus driver, but be IL OF different type The
principle or natural selection appears 10 prevail
here as else Wnere. The driver OF a Qua gener-
ally ponderous man, and IL thus In keeping with
his vehicle. There Is about nun, too. aspect or
bluff O01ltomie such as should rightly apperialn
TO the driver or a conveyance which calls itself
omnibus and welcomes all and sundry. Now the
cab driver Is a hgnIer man and y man or less gen.
erous seeming, as BELTS his place. But the fitness
OF things does not end nere BY what principle
the continuance or tine fact IS secured canot say,
out IL Is a fact, and II always has been. that al
these men are numorlsts. In TINS matter the ipus
driver and cab driver are also ike their
smart, Irritating; The 'nus driver IL sold,
ponderous, q lrife slow. When IL Is necessary Tor
caDoY to swear-and he thinks IL necessary very,
very often-I delight 10 resemble him 10 those
swift little craft which harmed the spanish gal
Icons OF yOre. When the driver OF an omnibus re-
loves his heart In that wise he Is Is heavy
Qunn0d thfee-decker. When he bOoms tue skies
darken. rhe pages oil Punch have made many OF
the droheries OF the TWO classes immortal. Ii
would not Unfair 20 say that Punch has got
one-half his pictorial fun out OF these people
THE RATE or WAGES.
The bus drivers and conductors are salaried
servants and are not well paid. As consequence
the companies employing tnem lose q go0d deal
No scne ne OF perfect action has vet been devlsea
to check rhe receipts or the conductor, and the
gallant commissioner At Scotland Yard VINO Is at
the head OF tue department told me the other day
that ne did not think any perfect cneck possible.
But for the most part tie men are honest and
and strong language Is The worst fault when can,
as a rule, be charged against them.
@=mnm-zn-~~m-------~---z