The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-04
CHI ZAP CABS.
A Great Want Unsupplied IT, New
York City.
NECESSITY FOR A REFORM.
The London and Paris Systems
COntrasted with Ours.
OFFICIAL HACK and CAB ORDINANCE.

While the question OF rapid transit commands so
much attention in New York one Of equally great I'M
porance-cheap cabs is not lost sight Of II Is not
general habit Of citizens to patronize hacks, be-
cause OF the extortonate prices charged by the drivers
Of such vehicles Notwithstanding the numerous or
inauces passed time after time regulate the rates
for carrying passengers the Jehus demand and inva
riably obtain extraordinarily high fares No one OF
our citizens who happens to ncod the OF cab but
has felt the necessity for strict enforcement OF the
laws governing cabmcn. Tho regulations on cabs are
carried out successfully in London because the pas
senger knows the rates and distances rs well
almost tho driver Every cabman in that
city has book containing correct schedules
of hts distances and rates. and the Same
placed in a conspicuous place in the vehicle For
instance, London, having Charng Cross for centre,
is divided into inner and outer CIRCLE with les
ser radius Of four miles and greater Of twelve 10 the
lesser the rates are set down cheapy One shilling Is
charged two persons in cab for each Of the first two
miles, and sixpence for each of the succeeding two.
Beside this, in the matter Of time within the
radius the charge Is only two shillings and sixpence
for the first hour and eightpcnce for every quarter
hour or fraction Of quarter hour afterward Compare
these with tho following entitled:
to amend chapter a of the Revised Ordinances OF 1885,
1nting to hackney coaches and cabs.
The Mayor, Aldermen Commonay OF the city OF New
York In Common Council do ordan follows
. pes o asD rsrs % BE- or
s b y s Or drivers Of coaches OF cabs
rs, sUnyeyns Sns e more any dis
SIC. s-For conveying one passenger: any dis
tsnce exceeding and mot exceeding two miles q 60
exceeding s~o na NOT .s
sGaSsss $
TIC rate Of seventy i've cent: per mile Or part OF mile
and "Rs
s snd Of sssns f'.s'
norh q Forty second street and south q loth street and
ana ,s.oash Central rs:s from any point s.
dg. with privilege Of keeping the carriage
pos S sPS
Ing. with privilege Of remaining there one and onehAf
Ito Harlem and SsnAss.aRyll: south Of lsoh
r x no q ss ss No
hours any point Of Fourteenth street.
SIC. lsTo point norh Of High Bridge and 70 and
FsaIsssnsS a: and ' Sor.y.sssSns :rsss: Vs. ~ $3.50
,O1s Of and r returning will. s.%s
SIC iSmfo any Of the places mentioned sections 10
ana M ii and south n
theatres
res. each addisionai mile shall be charged
SIC iz~For the use Of carriage by the hour with the
long q S
i.ss tss s.ss vs. Ss for
snsss sssps BE- made for under eight
years q age sSas 40 %
senger hty North Of ffyninth each add
per mile.
without charge but for extra bsEage no may
saS Of
S
beth street. from Fourteenth 70 Thirty street.
be deemed mile. from avenue to sixth avenue. or
sxc as-AIi disputes ss tho prices distance shall
be settled by the Mayor or such other person IS he may
a4-In all when the hiring Of ahackney coach
Il shall be deemed TO DO BY mile and for any detention
ceedng fifteen minutes when 80 working the mile the
s owner s ss ss.s
the eonvsysncs passenger unless number
carriage and rates Of prices be ,sd in ana on
Df article ~, under penalty Of 8.
nav have demomded and received any fare I'm excess II
what provided for in this article .ha return the excess
x, rss, % vsr ~ l G. %
coach cab may conveying any such person
SIC. 2s-The 70 jerome Park and Fleetwood Park
iege from the OF the rsi
fifteen minutes alter tho conclusion Of the last
src ao.Evsry licensed owner Or driver q any hackney
shall 30 With his coach or cab on any public stand
s At any Of the stsamoss Or other Landings Or r:osd
city shall wear cCnspc1oasy on his lei, brsa.; badge in
white metal ana suicien. admit number Of
the coach thereon a plain black figure. and
Licensed above and the word Hack beneath such
quarter Of an inch in length;
made TO the Mayors Marshal, room No Z, City Hall
NEW YoRK's DIsGnAcxyuL SYSTEM
The practice OF New York hackmcn is totally dis
OUT Of passengers II gentleman 20 to the Aston
House, for instance, and call cab TO take him to Twen
tythird street, the first question asked by the driver
''wherc do 20 want TO goy"
Twenty third street What's your fare9"
ssTwo dollars" replies the cabby.
"well Is that proper fares"
"Oh ycs,v replies the driver and away you 70
within the city ordinance. But should a man be nm
fortunate enough TO ask driver at the Battery what he
wants Tor driving HIM TO Union square he will be
charged 81 or ~ so; certainly nothing less.
There gauge or ritual at present in use whereby
cabmen can be governed
A few actual instances will show this TO those
shor. time since a gentleman arriving on ono
oil the European steamers put MS trunks
and himself H no cab sroe ana 70, was ss, smn
servlcc and for travelling distance OF less than six
miles he was compelled to pay the sum OF $40, or
about what ne would be asked to pay In Paris Tor on
entire week Another gentleman, needing . CAP 10
take him the uain-boat foot OF Cortlandt street.
IRON Thirty Nth street, had TO pay So while only few
days ago two gentlemen, hearing that friend was
Bellevue Hospital, paid - Tor me use OF hack from
the City Hall Park. The usual charge per hour s 81 90
and Ii il always considered the correct thing BY cab
men to charge double what their licenses permit
them TO receive What Is needed Is strict enforce
mcnt OF the ordinances such as they are, and Tho
police instructed all abuses brought to their
sce. This will be one step IN the right direction
Ihrext one should be even greater reduction OF
the eos and the establishments OF certain depots Or
statioL All vehicles attached to station should DO
UNDER the surveillance OF police officer and
strong hand laid on all rapaclous drivers The
run 1.-The drivers not content with their wages
III the bconc ~ .tablcsl and charge more than they
ray tl,r owncrs uthrrs who own cabs prefer 10
standilc for hours and make whole days pront on
Two i.rcs ~ tat mo ,oieratc priccs and being
busy n "a mite cvdcn Tint II the rate OF fares were
anything ike what would be propcr for such service
cabs o1lI 10 more nasroniycd INC animals would be
hcaItler and pcopIe wouId moi feel that they were
Ds'ne actually robbed. Now that the Centennial Is