Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-11
Fair PLAY for the Herdfcs.

Noticing In the papers recently some trouble
With the HeIdic Personal Transportation Com
psny of Philadelphia, wish to make a plain
statement OF what came under my own observa
tfon.I met Mr. Dragon, of Kansas City, who had
bought the right TO run the Herdics there. aud
from what learned from him concluded to 20
east at once and get thoroughly posted In re-
gaId 10 the matter and make some arrange
m % ior their use Went first 10 Washington,
DC, TO examine them; found the line running
IN perfect order; SGlr Superintendent MiddauIh
and got much Information rom him, which
SIM increased my interest In them. From
there went to Philadelphia 10 see Mr.. Hardic;
went to the Herdic Personal Transporta-
uon Office and stables, which are In one build
ing; was received kindly, and on making my
business known they showed me through the
building, the stables being below and the
coaches stored directly over the horses /
found the coaches muddy, bolts out and Ia bad
CONDITION: and getting all the stable odor made
tnem UNIT for passenger to get into. Having
been In the transportation business all nv lif5'
such management seemed strange to me. and
Inc cGa On would soon be ruined. On Inquiry
why they were thus kept the reply was: 'Ihey
We're good for nothing and not a success" /
saw the coaches on the street. running nearly
Iull all the time, and from estimate 1 made
concluded they must be taking in from ten
10 thirteen dollars per day and ought to pay
Wen. thinking there must be bad manage.
M ut OF some thing wrong, went TO the manu-
tendent OF the factory. and from a thorough
examination became satisfied that the COACHES
S were Wen 6uilt and would prove success If
about the Philadelphia line he replied
that that he could lot understand 1T; some
t ts w was wrong: They did not run
!, me o,, nne as If they wished to make
put ne had, at Mr.. Herdic's request repeatedly
been to the Office and offered TO reft the entife
llne OF coaches and put them on the street In
peT1ect order Without any cost to them But
they would not allow 1t to be done, and even
refused to allow his men to stay there who were
semi down to keep nuts and so forth In proper
shape. | then inquired where Mr.. Herdlc could
be found and was told at the st. George Hotel.
where saw him In the evening. After making
my business known and telling him where /
had been and what Tad seen. l asked him
what was the matter with the Philadelphia
company. He explained the who's matter In
Iuii ana 10 my entire satisfaction He led n..ato
DeIleVe that the street-car companies were back
t 81 Inc o company and were trying to get the con
Tallroad men that they would soon have the
Heroles out OF the way and Herdic had sail to
me mat one OF the company had told him that #
could control 1t, they would make it a erett
suT cess. He said No" and he was boIIui the
reQy:e shnnld have the benefit OF the line as a
-..ot che - transformation. From thare
came home to kaI sss CITY ana tainou -
ter over With my fiiends in the transport alton
company there, and they sold out and Concluded
TO tai Chicago. telegraphed Herci: TO meet
me there, which he did, and we closed bar
an for chicago, We putting IN fifty Thousand
cash against the right, organize a company and
tart q line, each 10 have one-halt the stock,
nerdic binding us to put on as many coacnes as
would pay dividend OF twenty-five per ceat
On the actual car1ral Invested, or on failure the
right to revert to him, as he did not want any
more trouble with street railroads in future as
they are always trying to buy him out. The
recent developments In Philadelphia convinces
me that Herdic's conclusions given me were
correct. and strengthens me in my opinion that
the car companies are trying TO get the Herdics
out OF the way. The coaches In Kansas City
are earning about one dollar an hour each.
F. E. SHORT.
Rapcoc Cfty limo