Evening star., 1895-10-12

trip, Conductor Brown finds that he Is sew
enty-f1ve cents ahead, and then remembers
his failure to return the change. He hands
1t in to the office, where it is held to await
a claimant.
The telephone of the railroad company is
almost constantly made use of by parties
desiring information regarding articles left
on the cars. Many owners request by wire
that articles be sent to them, but they are
invariably informed that nothing is per-
mitted to leave the lost property depart
ment until called for, identified and a
proper receipt given. One of the perpetual
joys CT the night clerk is the privilege of
answering the telephone at . am. or 3
am, and reply to some distant inquirer,
anxious to know IL loaf of bread or some
other article Of trivial value has been
found.
There was cleaning out of the lost prop
erty room at the P street Office about two
years ago, when thousands of undoubtedly
worthless articles, which the officials were
sure would never be called for. were piled
up in the alley back of the stables. The
employees Of the company were permitted to
take what they pleased from the pile, and
then the colored people of the vicinity made
away with the rest. All the property col
lected at the old stables at the northern
terminus of the 9th street line were re-
Gently transferred in a huge chest to the
street office. new lost property de-
partment has been established for the 9th
street line in the new power house at the
foot of AZ street southwest.
Amusing incidents are numerous in con-
pection with the lost property department
Several months ago a well-known society
woman visited the office in a high state Of
excitement, claiming that she had left a
very valuable diamond necklace on a car.
She remembered the number of the car
and. on being informed that the diamonds
had rot been turned in at the Office, prompt
ly declared that the conductor had stolen
them. and that she meant to have him
searched. Criminal prosecution was also
strongly limited at. Two hours after the
departure of the visitor from the office the
clerk IN charge received a note from Eer
by special messenger, briefly and humbly
stating that she had found the diamondS
on dressing case at home, having for
gotten to take them with her, as intended,
when leaving the house in the morning.
To show how carefully the conductors
are watched, an incident of recent date will
be of interest. A newsboy found a pocket
book lying in the street at the corner Of
9th and F streets. Being ar honest lad, he
handed it to the conductor of a passing
car, with the request that it be turned
over to the proper authorities. The con-
ductor by chance located the owner of the
pocket book and returned 1t. In some man
rer the officials of the read heard that
the conductor had found a pocket book
and for three days his every action was
scrutinized. Finally. being called on for an
explanation, the conductor gave the facts
as above stated.
A large bucket OF ginger snaps was left
On car few weeks ago and, as the owner
failed to materialize, the contents served
as an addition to the luncheon of the clerks
for several days. No one, however, except
the officials in charge are permitted to
handle the articles turned in as lost prop
erty, and only one man is vested. with
authority to enter the safe where the arti-
cles Of value are stored Mr.. William J.
Wilson, in addition to his duties as treas
rrer, supervises the lost property depart
ment of the Metropolitan Railway Com
pany, and is assisted by Mr.. G. B. Coleman
and Mr.. Walter H. Wilson.