San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-06-02
HACKS.
What They Contribute to the
City.

wy
Standing on the plaZaS. We see long
line of hacks, usually forming right angle.
These vehicles are, in accordance with the
hack regulations of this city. thus ar
ranged by the city marshal. Here they
wait until some one, either on business
or pleasure bent, beckOns the driver.
And thus they stand all day and greater
portion of the night patiently waiting for
a load.
The hack trade in the users idea is
profitable business. From the hackman :
point of view it is about as poor paying
job as almost every other line OF business,
having its good times on certain occasions
and seasons, and decidedly hard times on
others.
This city is fairly well supplied with
hacks and public carriages, there being,
according to the city clerk. just about 100
such vehicles, and these are owned by
about seventy different people. Each of
these hacks pays yearly license of
S5.25 to the city, and this. with Occa-
SiOnal fines for violating the strict
hack regulations. SwellS the amount
that the hackmcn contribute into the city
treasury. to about $3.50 in the shape of
license and fines.
There is more than that. each and every
hack with the teams belonging thereto.
is assessed the regular tax that is levied
upon all property. Th"0E" hundred hac ks
rated at an average of $500 each. and the
300 horses used in drawing the
vehicles, that are valued in the assessors
office at $40 apiece would give taxable
property to the amount Of $4,000. This
faxed at $l.15 per hundred. gives some
thing like $500. Thus the hackmcm.
through their yearly license and taxes.
pay into the city treasury about 5000 IA
year. Besides this. every hack owner
must give bond of two hundred dollars.
Il don't exactly understand the object
of the bond, said an owner. "but | be-
lieVe it is that in case we damage other
peoples property by our hacks. they can
always recover the damages"
A hack when new, such as some of
which we have upon the streets. cost be-
tween $1,000 and $1,000. There are. how
Ond hand boxes which when improved
would not bring $500.
The hGckmen differ with the city clerk
as to the number of hacks in town. They
say they doubt if there are eighty of
them. OF these. fifty are driy-
en- by their owners and the
other thirty are divided among eight or
nine prOprietorS, who hire drivers at "A
certain commission.
There has recently been considerable
talk about organizing hack drivers
association, but the project it seems. has
never been sufficiently pushed; in fact, no
one seems DESTROYS of taking the lead in
the matter. and it promises TO die nat
ural DEATH When asked if the projected
club had intended to put under a bond
each driver in order to keep the irreSpOn-
Sible persons out of the business, driver
replied, NO. don't think that such was
the intention of the proposed club. |
think if it is ever organized it ought to
strive in the direction of Salaried drivers.
that is to give each man salary instead
of 1873 per cent; commission. The men
wouldn't drive the horses almost to death.
day the hack driver doesn't earn
any money he doesn't get any COM
mission. and so a great many of them are
willing to take loads at almost any price.
As driver of my own hack, | think it
would be best if the drivers received Il
regular salary than third as commits
sion"
Here the knight of the whip began to
eXpatiate on the trials and tribuIatiOnS
of the hackmen in the following manner:
The IabOring men grumblC about their
ten hours. Look at the hackmCn. They
turn out at S a. m. and return about II or
- p. m. Our work isn't finished then yet.
There remain the horses to be cared
for. and. as is very often the case in
muddy weather. we must Immediately get
to work and wash our vehicles. Thus
there is an hours work. Yes. taken all
in all. the haclman'S lot is pretty tough
one
And the reporter wendell his way home
ward. wondering where to look for the
man whose work was not.