Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-06-19
Special Correspondence Of the Sentinel.

SPECIAL Correspondence OF the Se7lti''ef.
New York, June IA, 1851
once saw this city excited almost to
the verge of mobocracy by the re-
fusal of Vanderbilt to knock off one
cent from his charge of six cents for
ride on the Fourth avenue street
railroad. The agitators cared little
about the overohsrgs; but they were
in the terrible earnest in denuciation
of what they regarded as an imposi-
ton by a company which had obtain
ed valuable city franchise for moth
ing and refused to the public what all
the other lines had granted reduction
from war rates. just now there is
something of the same feeling against
the old hackman, who, having been
forced down in prices by the estab
lishment of the cheap cab company,
are endeavoring to harass it and de-
ceive the public by painting their
oldest and most delapidated cabs in
imitation of the new and clean vehic-
les of the cab company. OF course
the indignation is not SO general, be-
cause very poor men are not as inter-
ested in the overcharges of cabs as
they were in that of street cars but
there is much feeling over the imPo-
sition, and it is not uncommon to find
persons leaving bogus cab on dis
covering the fact and refusing to pay
overcharge ON the ground of decep-
ton. If the coachman becomes
obstreperous the knowing customer
takes his number, and demands that
he 90 to the Mayors mashal with him.
That settles the hackman, for he
knows that his customer is not to be
trifed with, and that he understands
his rights and knows when to enforce
them. The hackman, therefore, like
the bunco steerers, ply their arts chief
ly on strangers.
Some idea of the popularity of the
free baths of Now York may be gath
cred from the suggestive fact that al
though they were used by neaYly two
millions and half of persons in 1878,
this number was increased by mill
lion in 1888. Men and women boys
and girls, to whom such luxuries are
denied at home for want Of proper IA
cilities in the cramped and ill-appoint-
ed habitations which they occupy, are
rapidly coming to appreciate the san-
itary advantages, as we'll as the phys
ical comfort impaired by frequent
bathing during the heated term, and
there is no more popular institution
in the metropolis than the public bath
houses. Free water and all they want
of it, is one of the greatest benefits that
can be bestowed upon crowded popu
lations. 1t is the baptism of cleanli
nees that leadeth to goodness.
Mr.. John w. Mackays purchase o
the lines, rights and franchises Of the
Bankers and Merchants Telegraph
Company, indicates that an efficient
opposition scheme has been organized
and that it has come to stay. Thl
many experiments in the way of op
position telegraph lines which hav,
been organized and come to grief with
ia ten years have failed because the,
had purely speculative intent. Whel
their msnipulators could make an i'm
mediate profit by selling out they hav
done so, regardless Of the fact tina
their continuance in business woul'
, have brought far greater returns i
the end. But Mr.. Mackay has $
great fortune already that he is no
likely to pursue this course. lie ha
, never been a mere gambler IN th
stock market and it is scarcely likei
that he will now care to begin a ne
career when stock market dice-throW
ing is becoming disgraceful and di
astrous. TARHEEL.