Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-03-10
LOST PROPERTY OFFICE.
An Institution OF Great Benefit to
Thoughtless Persons
A Place whittier Are Brought the F1ot-
sam and Jetsam Of London and It's
Suburbs - Queer Articles Found in
Cabs, Cars and Omnibuses.

bhhn anu 9eNham OF LOnOOn ana
Suburbs - Queer Articles Found in
Cabs, Cars and Omnibuses.
The majority Of articles left by their own
ers in public carriages consists OF such
things as umbrellas, sticks, hand bags,
wraps, cigar cases and opera and field
glasses. 1t is easy to understand, says the
London Times, how such small items Of
personal impedimenta as these may be left
behind, especially after dark, for although
some Of the better class Of hansoms now
carry inside lamps this luxury has not yet
been extended to the greater proportion Of
them or to any Of the four-wheeled cabs.
But it is astonishing to find what a number
OF really valuable properties have been left
in cabs during the last few years. The fol-
lowing is list Of some Of the principal
ones, with the values on which the rewards
to the drivers were based: A bag Of Jew
elry, valued at 1900, and another at
&1, 200; case containing 2l,000 In Bank Of
England notes; q diamond necklet, value
Rl,000; a diamond tiara worth ESQ; several
packets of bonds valued at 93, 900, R1 500 and
$1,000 respectively; silver plate weigh
ing 1904 ounces, valued at R240; a
parcel of bank notes for $780, and
numerous other items OF the same
nature, but rather less valuable. OF
course all the articles and properties Just
named were claimed by the owners, the
drivers of the cabs in which they were
found receiving pecuDiary rewards; but,
although it can not be baid that the sums
paid them were inadequate, they certainly
can not be considered excessive. Thus, for
the diamond tiara, valued at ESQ, the re-
ward was e35. In cases, however, where
bank notes or bags Of gold are deposited
the sums awarded are properly based upon
q considerably higher scale.
The most valuable deposit was made some
few years ago, when a thoughtless clerk,
belonging to bank situated not hundred
yards from Scotland Yard, left notes and
securities amounting to several thousand
pounds in a cab that he discharged at the
door Of the bank. Within two minutes of
being paid his fare the driver had deposited
them in the Lost Property Office. 1t is
nice point in ethics whether, as the cabman
knew to whom the property belonged, he
was justified in taking 1t to the Lost Prop.
erty Department. Self-interest, however.
and literal Interpretation of the statute or
the subject outweighed any conscientious
scruples the cab-driver may have had on
that score, and the result to him, at all
events, was satisfactory, as he received o
reward sufficiently large to enable him t.
start as small cab proprietor with a couple
of horses and hanson" cab.
1t may seem strange assertion to make,
but 1t Is nevertheless true, that the owners
of some of the articles found in cabs have
been by no means anxious to claim them.
Indeed, some of their misfortunes in life
have been directly traceable to a momenta-
ry forgetfdlness on their part when leav-
ing one Of those useful vehicles. Slowed
away in the pigeon holes Of the Metropoh
tan Police Department are to be found doc
and letters which, beng taken to
the Lost Property Office, gave a timely
warning to the police of some intended
fraud or outrage, cleared up doubtful
clew, or possibly led to the arrest of a
swindler who had long been preying upon
the credulity of the public If rumor is TO be
believed, even some polce officers tnenI-
selves have not the pleasantest recollections
If some unfortunate lapses Of m mory
which were the means of bringing to light
,apers Qeft by them in cabs) that were
aever intended for the eyes Of their oficia
'uperiors. The Lost Property Office, TOO,
las been the seems of many an unfortunate
reconter. 1t would b.. difficult to do justice
to the feelings of the young undergraduate
who, while relating one morning TO an Off
Ger of the Lost Property Department his
various wanderings the night before In
hanson cab in which he had left his cigar
Ease, discovered at his elbow an affection
lte parent, of whom he had taken fare
veil en- route to Oxford the previous day,
lent on a somewhat similar inquiry after
tayoritc umbrella. More than one matri
nonial jar, t o, has been traceable to the
unexpected meeting at Scotland Yard OF
husband and wife, intent on the recovery
IF property lost on journeys in which their
mutual interests were by no means con-
cerned. For such misfortunes as these.
however, the department is not respon-
sible.
Few people can have any idea Of the i'm
mense amount Of trouble the Lost Property
Office takes to retrieve for the inhabitants
and visitors of the metropolis losses that
their own carelessness has brought upor
them. 1t is certainly not the fault OF this
Useful department that no owners can BE-
'ound for nearly half the articles deposited
with it, Every publicity is given by adver
ising them in the daily papers, and notices
4 properties found are sent to occupiers OF
louses, managers of hotels nd theaters, /
Il cases in which the driver gives the nun
er of the house, hote., ETC., whence he wa
ired. Weekly advices are now sent to The
4ost Luggage Department of the Railwai
clearing House in Drummond street, Eustol
auare, of articles found in cabs when they
ave taken up or set down their flares" a.
'ailway stations. These advices are very
lseful aids to the recovery Of lost property,
IS claims are frequently made on the rail
way companies for articles which are sub
seouently found 10 have been left in cabs.
--
The Hole in the Wall.
A gentleman who has recently returned