The times., 1897-09-05
THE ELECTRIC CAB IN LONDON.
tFrom the Sd. James GazetteA

tFrom the st. James Gazettel
The streets OF London will not exactly
beflooded with them aronce, but tomorrow
the cab loving people Of the metropolis OF
the world are to have the chance Of riding
La at least fourteen vehicles III whose shafts
horses have never been, because there are
no shafts Instead Of a sprawiine, jibbing,
whole hoofed animal that ia kes delight IN
lying down occasionally. aud is given 10
attempting to kick in the armor plated
splash-board, and once IN a while TO max
ing dash for the stone steps on which
stands the Duke Of York's column. these
new cabs have half a hundred miles or
electricity puc ked neatly away under the
cushions OF the seat. The navigating
officer is i'll his usual place, but whereas
In the past and present he has held and
holds reins attached to the mouth OF the
beast he, under the new order of things,
allows ono hand to lightly rest on a steer
ing gear anu one of his feet, perhaps notso
lightly, rests on G strong brake. All the
passenger has to do is 70 step inside
snuggle down on the luxurious cushions,
and wait until the cab. going fast or slow
as the occasion requires, reaches it's des-
tination.
A Semi-P bile Trial.
The electric cab has many time threat
ened TO arrive 1t has now carried out its
threat. This afternoon sem-public trial
trip was taken by tie united body OF the
new public conyeyances and tomorrow cleo
tricity begins its crawl alongside its rival
locomotive power, the horse. By this time
next year it will be known whether the
new method is a success or a railure
From present appearances 1t looks very
much as IL IL is destined TO be complete
success. The fact that the authorities at
Scotland Yard, after putting cabs ana cab
drivers through trials of a severe nature
have at length decided that all is well and
licensed the vehicles to ply for hire, seems
TO be Pretty strong circumstantlal evidence
that there is & good deal to be said for the
experiment. The cabs that today made
their first official public appearance are
| the property Of the London Electrical Gao
| Company, h company that has its head
quarters In JuXon street a small thorough
| fare, no great distance from Lambeth
| Palace. For many days experts have been
| hard at work. l,erfecting the system.
! which, after much con sideration, had been
| chosen as the most likely 10 prove in the
| long run satisfactory to public and pro-
| prietofs alike. Not Until the managers felt
| convinced that q pleasant and profitable
| means OF locornotioI, had been evolved did
] they decide to allow the cabs to come from
| the seclusion OF Juxon street into the fierce
| light that beats upon any vehicle that asks
the public to support'it by riding inside
The Choice Of Electricity.
| In the beginning il was agreed that the
! people were not likely to take to vehicles
driven by steanl,s no matter whether the
| fuel used for raising the steam was OIL
| or coal. Electricity seemed the ONLY mo-
| tive power to use, and so electricity 1t is.
| The cabs in appearance are very much
| like glGrified four wheeler, minus shafts
| and horse, and plus the accumulation,
| which, beneath the body of the vehicles
| is similar to the fire box OF steam roi!er,
| only nothing like so large or clumsy. The
| body is somewhat similar in share TO
| that OF a caupe. and is a little larger
| than that of q single ca ted brcugham-
| This body is extcs well windowed, those
| acr3ss the front, AZ also the side windows,
| being all made to open The apholster-
| ing is CT leather, and the interior or the
| cab is lighted ty electricity; indeed, all
| the lights of the vehicle, inside and out,
| are electric. The ubiquitous rubber tire
! is used; there are spring cushions. and
| every other modern luxury associated
| with public conve yances. At first it was
thought that the driver should sit In a
crows nest behind after the fashion
] of the present day hanson, but this idea