The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-14
CENTRAL PARK CABMEN.
THE GUILD OF JEHUs WHO T<EE
STRANGERS OYER TIE ROADWATS
Its Members Are HELD TO Square Deal.
Ing with Pnssengers-But They Have
Tricks OF Trade In which q Plausible

ing Win FnsseuUers-but They Hnvo
Tricks OF Trade In which q Plausible
Tongue Plays n Part-LnrEe Earnings.
Along the south side Of Central Park are
stationed the members OF one OF the closest
trade unions in New York city. Individually
they are among the most opulent OF all labor
organizations, for q majority OF the mem bers
own horses and carriages OF thoir own. They
know more OF Central Park In some OF It's as
poets than any other persons in New York. not
excluding the Park Commissioners and tho
sparrow policemen. Secretary Vosburgh OF the
union has been driving almost daily through
Central Park. beginning his tours shortly
after it was first established. This union Is
the Central Park Hack Drivers Association. u
local union of the big hack drivers union Of
New York. which has q mem bershp OF about
1000 and great deal OF political influence.
The Central Park Hack Drivers Association
has a membership Of 120. who own about
seventy-flve carriages OF all kinds and horses
to pull them. They have stand along the
south side Of the Park from Fifth to Eighth
avenue. although they have voluntarily re-
linquished the use of Fifty ninth street In
front Of the Navarro flats. between Fifth and
Sixth avenues. and In front OF tho Plaza HOTEL
where. before the hotel was opened. was ono
OF the best stands. This stand In front OF the
Plaza hns been moved around to tho Fifth
avenue side OF the Park by consent Of tho Park
Commissioners Tho hackmen have to take
places along the south side OF the street. as the
street car tracks run so close to the north side
that there lie not room for carriage to stand
between the tracks and tho sidewalk.
The cabmen have Q code Of rules about So
Letting fares. The man who comes first In
the morning has the place nearest the corner,
and he Is entitled to have. without interrup.
tion the first chance at every one who comes.
He solcits at the full union rato-S4 for O two
seated carriage all around the Park. with
stops not to exceed two hours In all. As he has
the first opportunity he is likely to insist on
the full price. though there Is no provision
against cutting rates. except that no carriage
shall GO Off stand In the Park for less than
dollars fare. After the man who is entitled to
the first chance gives 1t UP. tho next man In
line or any one after him may make an effort
and may induce the hesitat!ng customer to
take dollar ride. or what the hack drivers
call "a nice drive in the Park for a dollar"
Many possible passengers who would not pay
S4 take the offer for ST.
Tho member OF tho association who gets a
81 fare tries to do what Is called raising the
fare after he gets into the Park. Tho union
rule forbds an attempt to raise the fare out
side Of tho Park. and It forblds any attempt
other than peaceable and vocal one. The at
tempt is usually made by the driver taking
his fares UP to the lake. about fifteen minutes
drive. and showing the mall. tho Casino. and
the statues to them. filing them at length
with the information that these features COM
prise only u quarter OF the Park. and urging
upon the passengers the reasons which make
it necessary to charge moro than 81 to take
them all over the Park.
The hackmen have become orators In vari-
GUS languages by this sort of practice. Score.
tary VosburGh can speak almost any language
known In New York. including German,
French Italian Spanish. and several dialects.
He also has printed cards OF the list OF attrac-
tions in the Park and various facts about that
pleasure ground. Nothing beyond eloQuence
and explanation Is used by tho hackmen in
bargaining about a drive. and an attempt Is
seldom made to get 81 from ST fare. the
passenger and the driver generally agreeing
fishes the maximum fare Of 81 Tor two hours
for q carriage. and 81 as the minimum price
Secretary Vosburgh stands at the corner Of
Seventh avenue and Fifty ninth street Be-
sihes looking after hacks Of he own In gem
younger and less experienced than himself.
country" he said. while there was lull in the
business on q recent hot week day afternoon.
US Ia Yosk
R S9susE Ss New
cursiun anywhere brings people to Central
Park. school tcachers' convention In Bos-
ton. labor assembly in Chicago. a to-
meeting down somewhere South. Ill increase
our business. because everybody who comes
Sw YF5 to h the
orEanizatlon OF our union we give them moro
for their money than any ny liver, stable. the
New York people who go through the Park
walk or want to nut on style when they drive.
rai. Of @ snS 70 the Livery st
have to keep our numbers diSplayed. are
turnout tro the livery Stable that other peo-
pie may think the' own. Almost all New
DAYS day SOW own their horses. or they arc driving
horses of friends but some get q cab from a
m sash or Rs Ho stnoe or club to
We sometimes have trouble with stray cab
to get part OF the trade on u crowded day. We
have u rule that every member OF, the union
he " aust Isl Iesl his fares SO well satisfied that
tey will send other people to US, Though
them ours Ives without help: but sometimes
tnoy cause trouble You see most OF the peo-
the Park cone from the country. town. I
give all Of them my cards with lnfor::
nation ABOUT mo lhrk, the nune OF
my ilrm. my address. and the address Of the
Mayors Marsha! in case they are not wholly
every Que about the trip they have, had. and
the Park printed on the back; II they are
satisfied, other visitors from that town como
name We never heard sent them here and We
fluid out he was one Of our passengers. We
could not AFFORD to be anything else than
square. Cor if we were crooked these people
no more business from their town.
4 ran on the stand has to rely on his elo-
auence and persuasive powcrs to great ex-
tent for his fares. 1t isn't like a stable bust
ness do,wn; town stand bus ncss. You
can't very well talk q New Yorker. into taking
carriage. He has made UP his mind before
spu,. aud there Is no use taking to him. Dut
t. the people who come from out Of town you
Central Park. but they do not, know, much
sSss ys the fanx
our services as guides and eXpIIain ery.fing
York for twenty-nine years. and ! have been
I nook Of IA pprl nd I nm