Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-24

The cab has grown to be a popular institution
In Washington. Its Introduction a year or
more ago was hailed as prospective relief from
e1tortiOnate hack fees, and it has demonstrated
Its utility as cheap and convenient means of
transit over the smoothly paved streets of WASH
ington. IL has even won its way TO social recog-
milton. no easy feat in the exclusive circles of
the National Capital. 1t is called into the very
best society. and on any great festive occasion,
such as White House or cabinet receptions the
opera, etc. the neat little two-wheeled vehicle
may be seen on equal terms with the more
pretentious private equipages. Though it has
no cOrOneted or mOnOgramed panels. the cab
possesses merit which cOmmends it. The fare5t
ladies do not diSdan to avail themselves OF its
democratic comfort and economy. There are
now about one numbered cabs. including the
hansoms regularly engaged in the human car
rying trade OF Washington OF these one man,
an old livery stable proprietor, owns about half.
The other fifty are owned by various differ
ent parties, and in a few Instances the cab
Is owned oy the driver. The largest cab owner
In Washington said to STAR reporter MY
cabs stand me in nearly $1,000 apiece. The
nrst cost is 500 each. pay $40 for each har-
ness, and 1t requires two horses for every Gao.
Then count the wear and tear and repairing and
Ii Will make about Fl 600 each. Weno.I can't
say I've made any money out of the Investment
yet, but expect to. 1 mean TO 90 On increas-
Ing, and before much longer I'll have one humid
red cabs running. After this month | mean to
Keep them out until o'clock in the morning.
and after while mean to run em all night"
The cab horses are changed every six hours as
rule The drivers are paid - per day OF four
teen hours Some of the cabs are provided
with fare boxes. and the driver is forbidden to
receive any money But the lyeryman already
quoted discards this method of collecting his
money for fares. What sort of a check DO YOU
have on your drivers" he was asked. The only
cheek have, he replied. lis kept IN this way.
have big sheets of paper all ruled off for one
week Across the top is each day of the week.
Wei, nave Line for each driver,
and opposite his name put, below
the day of the week. what he turns in.
For any day he don't work / make cross. |
put EN- all down, and every Frday-the day
pay off, strike balance. If a man falls below
ali the Others call his attention to it. and just
say to him: Now, if this happens again you and
lpart company. The fare boxes are no account.
Ill show you why cab backs up to the curb
Ing there, and gentleman helps lady out and
escorts her across the sidewalk to the door of
the theater, or whatever place it may be. The
Gao driver follows him up, and he says. How
much do L owe yOn?' He finds out and offers
the fare. but the driver refuses TO take it. say
ing it's az; inst the rules for him to take the
money. Now, the gentleman-it might be You
or me-lsnI9 going to leave his lady standing
there maybe in the rain. to 20 back and put
the fare in the box himself. So he tells the
driver he caLl take it himself or not get it, He
amt going to- be bothered in that way for the
sake OF getti NJ the fare 10 the owner. So it
goes, and half the time the fare don't 90 in the
box We have. to be very strict. too. about our
horses. discharge driver instantly for mis-
treating or neg Letting one of my horses
The owners and runners of cabs regard the
vehicle as perm anently established in Washing
ton. and most t1f those who have engaged in
the business contemplate charging it. The
most dangerous rival OF the cab is the one
horse coupe. which has entered the field in lin
tied numbers, an at the same rates of fare as
the cab This vehicle, however. can Only ac-
commOdate two. nd so long as the cab retains
us present status, as recognized adjunct of
good society, it will thrive. In other words. so
long as the best social elements OF the capital
continue to ride in he cab its business is safe.