Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-08
PAYING FOR BASKETS.
New Rule Instituted by the Pittsburg and
DuQuesne Traction Companies-Mayo
Gourley's Pertinent suggestion-Why
Forbes Street Is to Be Abandoned.

! we" nuie inc anu
/ Duquesne Traction Companies-Mayor
Gourley's Pertinent suggestion-Why
Forbes Street Is to Be Abandoned.
An order which caused lots of grumbling
and will be the cause of great deal more was
promulgated on the Pittsburg and Duquesne
Traction lines yesterday. Every conductor
on both roads was instructed to collect a
fare for every market basket or package
carried upon the cars, provided they were
set upon the floor or seats of the car. The
management of these lines is the first in
Pittsburg to make this step, though it has
! been done on nearly all the Allegheny lines
for years
The complaints yesterday from patrons
were numerous, and last night when the
people from Oakland and the East End, on
their way home from market, became indig-
nant at the new tariff. One old lady who
lives at Soho created scene on one crowded
car by refusing to pay and speaking her
mind in forcible language to the conductor,
who finally allowed her to go for one fare in
order to escape her tongue.
Mayor Gourlev expressed the views of
many who talked about the new basket
order yesterday when he said: "It seems
like an imposition on the patrons of any
road to make them pay for basket or par
ceL Sometimes, of course, baskets are
nuisance on a street car, but it's only when
they are crowded and the aisles are stand
ing full of people. The right thing for the
companies to do now is to put on cars
enough so that people will not need to
stand-make il rule that when all the
seats in car are occupied no more passen-
gers can be taken on. There is chance for
a bright member of Councils to win a repu-
tation and the thanks of grateful people.
Let him present and secure the passage of
an ordinance compelling street car COM
panies to adopt that rule. 1t will be pop
ular measure, one that will affect every
man, woman and child in the city, and L
would sign it with as much satisfaction as
any bill L ever put my name to-"
"Hilly districts are not sought after by
traction companies at the present time"
said Pittsburg, Allegheny and Manches-
ter official yesterday. ''The Duquesne
Traction Company" he continued, ''is find
ing this out. / think THE DISPATCH was
on the right track when it printed the fact
the Duquesne would practically abandon
the Forbes street line. The Soho hill is
great barrier to the successful running of
the road.
'There is something in the story that the
Widener- Elkins syndicate would like to get
control of the Pittsburg, Allegheny and
Manchester. L do not think any steps have
been taken in this direction yet. 1 would
suppose though these gentlemen could get
tie road if they would put up enough
price.
Another thing that brought Messrs
Widsner and Elkins to Pittsburg this week
was Dasiness pertaining to their Philadel-
phia lilses. The roads are now operated by
the cabin system, but it is not satisfactory.
They want to adopt electricity, and are
quietly in ,estigating and making arrange
ments for t.ls sy stem while here.