The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-10
OMNIBUS TRAFFTC IN LONDON
LONDON, March IA fcw,y years ago. the

ways Uhc English term for street rnilwaysl !
camo into my considerable use, and II is only
within about the same time thai the ordinary
railways have taken any largo share Of the
metropolitan passenger traffic. Yct IN the
ycara when not obliged to compete with other
means of travel, the omnibus companies often
had but prccariou- existence, and their stocks
were by no means considered profitable prop
crty Even the chief Of tn omnibus companies.
which now pays II per cent TO It's sharehold-
crs. was them nj tmcs. scarcely able to pay one
per cent. Competition has perhaps. compolcdn
better and more economical system. and helped
to increase dividends. but the traffic itself. in
stead Of diminishing. has really increased. not
wlthstuuding the immense number of pnssen-
pcrs now carried 10y tramways and the ordinary
railways. Tho population Of London increases
at the ratio ~ more than 1900 yearly. and this
of itself naturally involves an increase Of traffic;
but this alone IL not sufficient reason for such
increase. seeding. also. that 80 large part has
been diverted TO new channels. Better and
cheaper means Of reaching the suburbs havo
stimulated the tendency to abandon the central
par,s " the metropolis to business. and to sock
homes in the suburbs. Fares arc lower than
formally but the receipts have grown larger.
The omnibus is certainly favorito method Of
travel here. One of the advantages II the sys-
tom is it, universally. Amid all the complex
network of Londou'- crooked streets. 1t would
be hard to nmd locality whcre walk Of two
minutes will not bring you to some street whore
umnihuscs are running TO and from the central
part Of the city every ton minutes. The railway
station or the tr0mway may not be- handy In
many parts but the omnibus conductors eye Is
upon YOU everywhere. and nod or motion Of
YOUR hand brings hi. vehicle TO a halt nj once
Moreover when the distance Is not more than
two miles, most people find that the omnibus
has the advantage Of other means Of travel in
point Of time The horses usually 20 at "a brisk
trot.
At certain points throughout London. there
are great centres OF omnibus travel The
chief nuclei IRE the Bank Of England and
Chnring Cross. and next in importance are Pic
cadilly Circus oxford Circus. Kings Cross. tho
Angel Ia noted public housed. London Bridge,
anil thcElophant and Castle talso public house,
At those points omnibuscs may he had to any
bart OF London and most lines often leave the
more direct routes in order to pass these
centres Of travel. The route OF an omnibus be-
tween it, tcrmini IL Indicated by the names Of
the localities passed through printed upon
every available spot Of tho outside OF the
vehicle Tho color ~ the vehicle. to those who
have studied the system also ind the
ruut" very accurately Every omnibus has u
driver and cordu tor Inside the vehicle IL IA
large printed list OF far"s, The route is always,
,,,,,v. 7,.."r'linf,tn di-innc" AMI r"rk"n.d be-
tween fixed points. II one would be- economical
| ~ l.,tiing INTO AN omnibus when near one II
IT. stations and thcn riding to tho middle IT
wnvs for iw" lull stages.
Spmr lines have two.cont fares. hut on most
| lines the minimum fare IS four cents. and the
| max imum-thut is, for the whole distance
| t,vnivn cents There nrc n few routes where the
| distance * seven or 'ight miles and the faro
for the entire trip u twelve cents. Fares IN gen
! orai fir long distances are not moro than two
| cents n mile In many cases they are even
! ma IA cheaper than that. take "A ride nenrl)
| every morning hv omnibus Of nearly two and "A
han II lle- ana the fare Is Int four cents. one
nm ti,,t H. known f. mo il nenrly IN rec and a
| inif miles AMI tne f,rs for the whole distance
| hut four cents The maximum FIRE of which
.,a,l ~ IN. Intnli.s "nly tn iii,s I'M
H., nni rum OUTS ,l, the inatropoli. proper Oni-
! minus lines hnwc,,r run 10 nearly all villages
within twelve miles n London. An excellent
| line run. 10 Harrow Hill a distance Of
| about ten miles. and the fare Is hut half Il crown
| about siNty-two cents-for the round trip.
| tors are required to record each larc ne soon as
| pad ON a sort of way bill.
| \enher omnitu~oe nor tram cars b'cin run
| iinue running till nearly midnight. Few om-
ulhu-,s or trains arr Ia bc secn Garlic ihnu ;
O'Clock. There IL mo- change IT hands through
ouf tine iuV. though those HIo are required io
he al thHIr posts liist iu the moruins AZ" don"
go uilhtu LITTLE earlier Low reason of H. \ day =
work for driver aud conductor Is fuzzy fourteen
moro nearly fifteen. perhaps -ruI-r' utiNv
hours. On many lines no dciinit, time l. n-
lowest for meals. and they must PICK M q DIT"
- eat rs they can ON tho ny, may say.
Tor this long anl no. pleasant day : work the
strange rs II may seem, they are expected
though not supposed. may add % be- honest
on -uch was'~. j. Is a niue Qua mat thr
conductor Wrough Who-c hann- ;" mu W
money uAS-e-, should receive less imam the
driver. In' WaE - named are uhN'r- a.
traffic OF the metropolis l. ia the hand, oi one
company. IN" London "rh"ral omnibus oh-
p@ny. lh' report 9pthr directors 70 ne Shhre-
holders. for The hall year ending Dec. Jl 1871,