The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-04-07
New York's Big Vans.
From the New York Sun

and estimate within cubic foot of how
much space the contents will take up
packed, and he doesn't make any elaborate
computations either. He just walks in a
leisurely way through house from roof
to cellar or through fiat from end to end,
and when he is through he knows. Houses
vary greatly. One three story house might
have in it three van loads The house
just like it next door might have six, but
the estimator rarely makes mistake He
might get half van load out of the way
in estimating six load house, but this
would be quite unusual, He would be
much more likely to hit the mark
The contract price for moving means
for moving from any floor to any floor.
If it is desired, the company will send
barrels, boxes and packing materials and
men to pack crockery, bronzes, books, bric-
a-bric, and so on, at 7J cents barrel or
its equivalent in space. The time for load
ing and for starting the vans would depend
somewhat on where the goods were going.
If they were going 40 miles into the coun-
try, the vans would be loaded the after
noon before and would start at , o'clock in
the morning. They would arrive at their
destination at about 10 o'clock the same
morning, the horses would be put up and
the vans unloaded, the start on the return
would be made at about O'Clock the next
morning, and the arrival in the city would
be at about TO-
Vans are specially constructed with
large bodies and low wheels for transpor-
tation by steamboat or railroad Whether
horses are taken on such trips depends al
together on the distance the vans are going.
If to nearby point, the horses 20 along
if to IA distant point, it is cheaper to hire
horses there. If vans were going to New
port, for instance, they would be shipped
on freight propeller, whose derrick would
pick them up like great boxes of goods and
land them on deck On such atrip horses
would not be taken, but hired in Newport
for the hauling there. Horses would meet
the vans at the dock upon their return
here. Vans 90 west at least as far as
Louisville, south to Baltimore and Wash
ington. In transfers, say to Long Branch
and other nearby points, the horses 90 with
the vans.
Fifty miles would ordinarily be about
the limit of the distance that vans cover
on their own wheels, but they sometimes
go greater distances. Forty miles would
be not at all unusual, and trips of 30 miles
and less are common. The drivers know
the roads within 80 miles around New
York well. They know where the paved |
roads are and those that are most nearly
level, and where the poorer or more diff
;ult roads are, too, and so they know what
'oit VI du outnG W tlhe. w neTc Tue rOauS /
ire good to destination the vans would be
lrawn by four horses. On bad or hilly
'oads they would take six horses. 1t is
interesting to note, as the result of the
irlvers observations, that the roads around
New York are better than they used to be.
md that they are steadily improving. Not
the van companies move peo-
Die from one point to another outside of
he city. For example, gentleman who
ived in town near Bridgeport, Conn,
Who was about to move to place near
Parrytown, in this State, contracted with
van company of this city to move him.
Three vans went up from the city on this
Expedition. The work took about two
Veeks. Here the distance to be covered
Tas so great that it was impossible to make
in single day, and the vans halted at
light and went on in the morning They
tent to and fro in this way until the work
Ias completed. The bill for this job came
} nearly s1,3O0
The van companies move goods between
oints in the city as well as to and from it, |
nd besides moving household goods they
i'll estimate on and contract to remove the |
ontents of store or a building to another
ore or building. 4 recent moving lob t
! this city came to about 81 200. Goods {
loving in vans on their own wheels are .
ot insured. In transit by rail or boat '
icy are insured at the request of the ow- o
er. The cost Of moving by vans depends,
course, largely on distance, and it varies s
'mewhat according to season and circum-
ances. 1t is cheaper between seasons, n
I'd the nature of the roads to be covered
igbt have something to do with it. To h
orristown, n j., distance about 80 miles c
e price in the busy season would be S35 b
van and expenses, the expenses being P
rriage and tolls. To point, say, II D
lies from the city, in the busy season, the y
te would be $50 a van and expenses. a
The storage and van business has in
eased greatly in New York 81 vcean, =,