New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-26

he rides while in New-York passenger on 'ra'"
must pay his nickel. be his journey one OF hVe MN
utes or less or of one hour Superintendent Herer-
nan does not believe that such a scheme as inc
London one would take at all here
NOW I'll tell YOU Just the facts OF the case.
broke out Mr. Henernan. It's nonsense TO TAX
OF cheap cabs In New-York. and those Fellows down
abou, Madison Square who are trying Zo-ceh' rates
will soon have 10 give II up. know we" eho"s"
times are bad In this business. but low prices are
not what will help Yes. cable cars ana Dcyo'es
have hurt us enormously. Lots OF men VINO useu
70 ride downtown In a cab now live further up'o""
and 20 10 business by the elevated raiioau VI NV
cable lines But they wouldn't move oo"h'o""
again and take to going TO business III caos il ""
Gu, the prices no matter how low on. yes ieen
prices have come down. thank heaven; that aoo"'
all TIA, has saved us this last year or TWO I've got
l6O horses right here In these stables. and l"o heau
In all our establishments. so you can see ""A'
difference to us q small drop In the cost OF ma! anu
grain would mean. It's only 'stree'ers ina. nave
come down in price-.cabbers' are high enough But
there would be no in reducing prices because
the class that night be got to use CAPS cou'u"
be reached Betu cen the man who uses caos ana
those who wouldn't use them unless they were a.
cheap as streetcars. the chasm Is so vide IL "ouu
be impossible TO bridge IT,
In a further conversation Superintendent Hcner-
nan made two poifts one Is that when one THINKS
NJ cheap cabs in Paris he does not consider the RAM
shackle conveyance with which he Is generahy
obliged to put up This is true enough ou' IL
does not apply in London. II is strange IN raf's
to see the most eminent people ride In facres ana
behind horses that English people and Americans
would not put up with for moment. The second
noint Is that TO have good turnout In Paris
livery stable costs about the same amount as IL
does here-s250 a month. plus big tip there 10 the
driver This information he vouchsafed on the
authority OF Senator John J. Bradley
FOR CHEAP CABS.
There was only one practical. business advocate
OF cheaper cab rates found by The Tribune man in
his round Of the stables who is ready to try some
scheme that will lead to a building up OF the
business on this basis. That man is H. c. Overn,
proprietor Of the big stables at Forty -second-st.
and Broadway. Mr.. Overtn said
Labor has not reduced any since 1878. but be-
lieve that cheaper system OF cab and livery rates
would be beneficial. only 1t must be brought about
by some very radical changes. You see that man
going out now" and he pointed TO a driver on his
box. Now. that rig is going down to Desorosses-
G, ferry I am obliged to charge 81 30 for the
Journey and even II my men had 10 so almost any
number OF times day would hardly be able TO
make a profit a much more reasonable charge;
but IL had my men working under different
system. II would be another story. II that man
would look out and get a return rare and turn
over the money to me when he came back 1t
would be very different indeed Then. you see.
could let the vehicle go for s. instead OF 81 80 and
IF ! could control my cabmen as street rail-
way can its conduc tors-but OF course couldn't.
he concluded. soliloquizng. mo. the only way 10
do would be to have the cabdrivers own their out
fts. Is principally done in New-lork. or hire
them. they do in Paris. al so much day. and
then let each do the best he can for himself
Il have always been in favor of that New-York
Cab Company scheme. OF letting out TWO horses TO
cabdrver for Sc 10 a day. | believe that money
could be made letting to cabmen. we'll secured. as
low as 81 90 a day. which would enable them TO cut
the price OF a trip the Desbrosses-s ferry from
81 80 down TO 81. and possibly even 10 10 cents
You see counting the cab and horse at "a 80 a day
and the drivers time 81. total OF 81 50 would
have TO be reached. To get that much team
would have be employed at least nine solid
hours day. out OF a possible fourteen. al % cents
hour
Mr. Overin admitted that a driver under these
circumstances would be working for his own
hand he might. II he watchful and ener-
getic. get calls and tips that would enable him TO
do well on a basis OF less than 10 cents an
hour.
But to get right down TO hard facts" went on
Mr. Overin. Il have my doubts about hackmen In
New-York plying publicly for low %
cents for a short drive You see here labor. which
only Il week in England. costs 49, and rents
are very high / pay $500 year for these stables.
Then. TOO. Boston and Philadelphia are more cir
cular in shape. Here one has 20 so long drive 10
get almost anywhere"
CAB INVESTMENTS
r.o, NJ o,,.r,r v,as ask.d - ,.u sor,.,,inc 40 -
me" WI. oe'.' va, , " ~ ''''''s az ~
the cost OF CAP ana horses ana the running eN-
penses with view TO finding out the bottom figures
a. has,s for chcon cab rates He said ina, al
az ' ~ - - - "
most an the puo'lc caoineh owned the" own outh's'
That Is as well as being laboring men at s.
day, they are capitalists. with stock to dcprecate
80 , ..,.,n o,,a,,,, ~, ,,.,,ros, 80 10 -, - -,
and certain amount OF interest 10 he PAD on their
capital. A good hanson costs. say $50. horse
s75 harness $40 and sundries whip robe etc
49, "' w. ~" '' "''''' ''''' w,
s25 more. or, In other words. an investment OF
about s.. 800 is needed for which n good return az
Investments 90 now would be 400 n vear Denreci
aiion Mr. ovcrin heli.ves amounts in ,bis L,,L -,
an INVESTMENT 10 20 per cent year. A horses KEEP
90 Us so @ - 80 i"i "'o
10y nas'9 a - "a, wv sun ~ 80" -'""nB
s-o' on capital investor, >5cD