New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-30
LIFE ON THE FRONT PLATFORM
THE ADVANTAGES OF A STEADY CARNIVAL DRIVERS
WILL DO TO BE ON TIME.

THE ADVANTAGES OF A STEADY CAR-wHAT DRIVERS
WILL DO TO BE ON TIME,
"Talk about fashioned winters" salu the
driver Of Gates Avenue car in Brooklyn, to TRIBUNE
reporter he put the brake tight and haneo MS 'e"
to one side Just In time avoid collision with stage OF
the Lafayette Avenue Line the Futonst hill III you
meet anyone who expresses desire to see anything OF
the kind lust advise him that there is no better place III
the world 10 the desired view than from the Oh
platform of horse Let him take the DrSt run Ill
the morning With the thermometer down at zero ana
warrant you that before he reached the CITY au ne
would be satisfied that the winters are still eod.'
Then az the car fell into place in the line OF trucks
grocers' wagons and other cars, and moved along at
funeral pace toward the City Hall, the driver became
confidential "Why," he exclaimed. al have seen the
snow drift across the hill ont 1t Ridgewo0d IN Such
clouds that you couldn't the horses feet But don't
think ! am complaining, for l am glad 10
get the work. tough is have just got steady car
after waiting nearly year. The man WHO had lt before
me was five inmates late, and so lost his car"
as difficult to get a steady cart'
"The fellow who lost this may not get steady run
again for year more. / remember one time when
was driving or the Myrtle Avenue road The stables then
were at the corner OF Marcy and Myrtle avcs and lived
about a mile and half away. l oversight myself ana
when woke had just twenty minutes TO dress ana get
10 the stable there. though III time to get my car
There was one old driver the Flushing Avenue Line
The bows used to call him 'Od Reliable for he was al
WAYS on time. He's dead now. Well one morning IN the
dead of winter snow half foot deep the ground and
cold as Greenland odd Reliable had not shown up and
it was time his to start in one minute more Half
dozen extras were waiting around anxious to get a
steady run The starter thought that his clock
must be slow, and was comparing II WIN Ills
watch when old Reliable rushed up to him. He was in
his feet and had on pair OF his sons trousers Wch
came Just below ms knees, and was struggling into MS
overcoat which he had slipped his flannel shirt
without any other clothing lie reported to the starter and
was excused for the day Oh yes lie kept his car but
he lost that days work. He relied upon a mikmsn to
wake him, but that morning the milk1non had new
horse which away and the mkman did not 60 MS
round Two other man whom Old Reliable Iwlsh lcohlu
think of his nance accustomed to wake slept thal
morning until eight O'Clock and both lost their runs One
day last week of the this road who lives Cd
Broadway about a mile from the stables at Ridgewood
had just four minutes in which to get to the stables he
met mikinan III Broadway, and offered him two dollars
to take him the stable time TO catch his car The mix
stable half inmate ahead OF time, earning 81 In ite
than three minutes On yes, any man would give
tht amount rather than lose his car, and they would
give five or ten doll If necessary ,,
"Whv Won make a fun days work and full days
pay The hours hard of course, but there Is no use
that we have the hardest time. The old drivers men whe
have the most experience, are put on the sweepers
This is the toughest worz that the horses and drivers
have to do The sweepers are terrible strain on hS
adjusted Then the exposure 70 the wind ana storm Is
hard upon drivers. For week last month wnlle inc
heavy snow-sOrms fell ono upon another
the snow sweeper. dd not gei
more than four five hours sleep IN all
that time and hOase that could not speakaboYe
whisper Then the cold air from the melting snow ana
ice caused by Of salt ia blown right Into the faces
OF the the pOl and the chances are ten TO one
that they will be laid up with pneumonia There was ole
old driver Big Phil they used 10 call hInhe drove on
the Myrtle Avenue Line from the time the rst car began
running until last winter. One day he took the snow
plough out caught cold and days later was dead
No. do think life insurance men would rate car
tng this outdoor life beneficial man. If you want
any proof of that there is odd Jimmy on the Myrtle
Avenue Line lie is seventyfye or eighty years old, u
not older aud is on every day In the week except
Sunday The company gives HIM that day extra"