The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-04
THE STREET-CAR SERVICE.
How the Extensive System Is Manageable
Men Employed and other Facts OF Interest.

indianapolis has now the best street-car
service il has ever had. 1t might possibly
be better. but as it is so much superior to
what it was. it is appreciated. and is used
more than formerly. Where transit by this
means was once made solely matter of
business now the cars are used for pleas
ure rides. especially since the open cars
were put on. On the wall, in the office of
the Citizens Street-railway Company, near
the Union Station, hangs map of the city,
and the car lines are heavily marked nit, as
are the stables. There are nineteen lines,
covering fifty miles of track. The lines ex-
tend as far north as Crown Hill, south to
the Belt road, east to Woodruff Place, west
to the Insane Hospital. The Woodruff
place line runs from that eastern terminus
TO the Insane Hospital. The Columbia
avenue line, from that and Seventh street
to Haughville. The West Washington and
South Meridian-street line goes to the Belt
road, and the Blake and Pennsylvania line
from the Exposition Building to within two
squares of the City Hospital. The Illinois
street road runs from Crown Hill Twenty
sixth streetl or Thirteenth street down to
the Union Station. The Alabama and Cen
tral-avenue line takes its way from Central
city to the corner of East and Morris streets,
on the south. The Mississippi line begins
at the corner of that street and Thirteenth
and goes south to the corner of Madison
and Indiana avenue lines cover the
south one car goes to the corner
of Prospect and Reed, and the second to
Shelby and Willow streets. The stock
yard cars pass between that southwestern
point and Michigan street as far east as the
Decline road.
A little crOss-tOwn road was built, in re-
spOnse to call from the people. 1t begins
on Seventh street at the Big Four tracks,
goes east to College avenue. south to Home
avenue. and east to the Little station on
Massachusetts, avenue. new line goes
north to the arsenal from the East Wash
ington street line, near the Institute for
the Deaf and Dumb. Cars on the Irving
ton and English avenue line run less than
any other: For these lines there are
seventy-eight open cars and twenty-five
closed cars, the former giving way to as
many closed cars in cold and wet weather.
To man these cars there are 273
ing over twelve hours day.
and as the motive power is furnished by
mules and horses, there are l, $50 of these.
The first car goes out at $50 A. NJ. and the
last one starts in ut 1870 A. Nj. When the
road was bought by the new company in
May, 1888. there were three stables-the
Louisiana, West-street and College ave-
nue.. The new stables erected since then
are on New Jersey, Illinois and Thirteenth
streets, and another will soon be built at
the end of the Virginia avenue and Shelby
street line, the men III charge at each sta
bic being the night man and the starter.
The latter, as the name would indicate, is
the one to send out the cars in the morn
ing There are yards and sheds at the
West Washing ton-street and the. Illinois
street stable, where the stock. when ailing
Is put and taken care of until well. When
the amin ais get slow they are exchanged or
~< TO-. h.
which is considered the best mule market
in the United States. They are bought
by the carload. there being generally
twenty-four to the car. The cars are also
bought in st. LOuis.
When q man desires % position in the
street-railway service he must make appli-
cation, and for that purpose he Is given q
blank to be filled ont with his name, age,
etc. and recommendation from some known
citizen. The application is then placed on
file. and if the applicant gets the place he
first acts as a substitute, and. in case of
sickness or absence for any reason. of reg
ular employee, he Is given his work. The
regular drivers have the same cars every
be at work for n day or so. when they re-
turn they have their old cars. Strong young
men are preferred as it is almost impossible
for middle-aged man tn become good
driver or conductor. Good eyeSight and
activity are necessary requirements. When
a man takes a car he has to find his own
change, and have watch. Men may, if
the company can spare them, take day or
evening from their work. On big DAYS,
like the State fair or circus days, every
man is needed.
The drivers and conductors are not the
only men the company employs, although
with the exception of three for the trans
fer car. they are the only employees that the
public have to do with. Every, car passes
the transfer. except those on the Seventh
street crosstown. Many complain that the
transfer is nuisance. and eyesore and the
like. but one other thing it certainly is and
that is convenience. The average num-
Der of persons who daily pass through the
transfer is 5000 and many more are trans
fered to other lines before reaching that
station. The greatest day the new COM
pany has ever had was Thursday of State
fair week. when So 900 persons were carried.
The longest ride for one fare is from the end
of College avenue To Hanghville five miles
and half Like all other classes of work
ers. the street railway men have benefit
association with weekly dues. and through
IL a weekly amount is paid each member