The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-04-25
CAR DRIVERS REASONS.
why They Won't Wait When You Want
Them Ia snd VIII When Nos Don't.

"Oh. how meann
That what a lady on Fourth avenue looked
rs il sho was saying the other day when she
signael a street car, aud tho driver, instead
of stopping, whipped his horses and swung
past on the run
some Of em swear, said the driver 90 a
man smoking on the front platform. Yes.
.ir, women. and pretty women, too They
swear right out 50 as can hear EN- some
times, when whip up and leave EN- staud
ing on the cros,in,"
why didn't YOU stop and let her onr'
asked the man in somewhat indignant tone
~ you cast yvrr eye back you'll see an
other car not more'n a block behind lt'd be
worth my position to stop for Ben Harrison
under those circumstances Thems the or
ders. sir, and II a spotter sees YOU break EN-
you get your walkin papers. We don't
leave people in the lurch for FUN, you know
We cct lots Of hard looks and hard words for
doin 10. and that without our dt~ervin EN-.
The people don't understand that II there's a
car close behind its orders 70 50 right along
and not stop for no one We leave II 10 tse
'ar behind 10 pick 'em up
Sometimes, too, we've got 70 leave folks
when we're little behind time You know
that we try 20 run horse cars on exact time
and a. IA rule succeed pretty we'll II we get
in from a trip half a minute late we'so got to
explain II were a minute lato there's the
devil to pay If we'rc Two minutes late we've
got 20 give mighty good reasons Tor 1t or
we're suspended for three days Didn't know
that, did youi People generally don't, or
they wouldn't swear at us 50 much"
But, said the smoker. I've seen Broad
way cars stop several minutes In front OF the
theatres at night waiting for n load. Some
times threc or four cars viii be punched n
fr0nt.of the Metropolitan Opera house or
palmcrs waiting for load OF passengers
irom the theatre This delay ofton lncon
venicuccs passengers who arc in a hurry"
"1hcy amt quite 50 strict about time on
Broadway" said the driver, "owin 10 the
frequent blocking of the streets which makes
exact time imposib.e At the samo time
drivers and conductors who lay in front oi
ihe iheatres ike that run great risks. No
compauyu iet tho cars stop except when
they hayo to. and II spoilers should SEQ 'em
,taudin' there they'd be- music, ! tell you.'
But what possible object could they have
n waiting for p load at a risk 10 themselves
The sizo of the loads they carry don't make
any difference in their earnings, doss itf'
Its this way, said the driver Every
car has a certain book that is, it has taken
10 q certain amount Of money day on the
average, Tor years, mayhe IL Is spoken OF
As So car or $3.50 car, or a 50 ear, or
whatever DO, average or book is. Now, you
,ee. II any car fails below ts book the com.
pany asks questions They want - know Il
The driver makes habit of not stopping for
folks % save himself tho trouble, or they ask
whether the conductor gobbles tho fares
Suppose, for instance, "a s25 car drops 70 80
or so That driver and conductor are under
suspicion and liable 20 be laid OF Tor other
men who can keep tho cars book up 20 the
scratch Anyway, a spotter IS liable TO b.
put aboard 10 see If all is straight and then
look out for trouble Even II he iirds every
thing straight keep your eyes open. It's the
spoilers business to make trouble, and he
generally minds bis business"
docs IA small book generally mean that
conductor doesn't ring fares upr asked the
man wiki tho cigar.
The driver winked knowingly.
III pretty generally means that very
thing said he. 81 had a conductor on with
500 once whose book got about S5o day below
the average They put spotter on the car,
and. by Joyel they found that he was putin
tho whoio S5 into bis own pocket lie got bis
walking papers, and sir, ho had check enough
% go up Afterwards, bold as you please, and
demand an explanation OF his discharge from
the super.
1--WE didn't think 10 was perlite FOR ms g.
allow tho stockholders In the road 10 run the
cars was all the super'd say to him No"
York Sun