The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-27
CAB FARES IN PARIS.
Mark Indicator Shows the Exact Cost
Per Minute.
Paris Edition of New York Herald.

Paris Edition of New York Herald.
Five hundred of the Paris cabs will in a
few days time be supplied with the, Mark
Indicator, which indicates the time the We
hicle has been occupied and the fare which
is due to the cabman. This step has been
decided on by the Compagnie Generate with
the object of competing with obnibuses and
tram cars. The appearance of the Mark
Indicator is that of an alarm clock. 1t con-
Sists, says the Temps, of a dial with two
cOncCntric circumference, around which
moves a pointer set in motion by clock
work. The first circle marks, the time and
is graduated into minutes, one to sixty. On
the second are inscribed the corresponding
prices. The mechanism, is inelosed in
square box. 1t is placed IN movement or
stopped in working by two keys placed out
side, one on the left side of the box, the 9TH
on the opposite side to that of the dial.
Above the dial to the left is a small hole,
in which appears the letter M lMarche)
or "a" Garrett, according to whether the
apparatus is working or not. In the middle
of the principal dial is another small dial,
supplied with pointer, which marks the
This Indicator will be placed on the left
side of the cabman in such way that the
fare can see it and so that the driver can
set it. in notion without leaving his seat.
On the door of the cab will be placed
blackboard bearing these words, printed in
white letters: "Pefites courses de jour
depuis, OF. 60c
This reduced tariff for cabs will only ap-
ply to short journeys, those which do not
take more than twenty-three minutes The
working of the new system will best be
understood by taking an example. "A fare
halls a cab and tells the driver to take him
to the Care Saint-LaZare at reduced rates.
The cabman sets the indicator in motion
and starts his journey He travels
through the streets at a tremendous rate,
much to the establishment of his fare. This
abnormal state of things is a consequence
of the new system.
The cabman has made a close study of the
Mark indicator. He has noticed that it is
to his advantage to go quickly He reasons
something after this fashion, I'm paid GO
centmeS for the first two minutes. Up to
six minutes 1 receive 10 centimes more for
every two minutes. From six minutes up to
twelve the increase is only 10 centimes for
every three minutes, and if l don t. reach
the station in twelve minutes-if the jour
ney takes me sixteen minuteS-I receive
only 10 confines for my last four minutes.
1t is therefore, to my interest to drive
quickly"
The cabman arrives at the Care Saint
LaZare in, say, nine minutes. He turns the
key placed to the left of the indica tor. the
pointer stops at the figure nine, and the
fare sees that he has to pay the sum of so
centimes. Both fare and cabman are well
satisfied. The former recollects that form
erly he had to spend franc so centimes for
the same journey and the latter compli-
ments himself on having made the journey
in nine minutes because nine minutes at
80 centimes works out 10 confines a min
Ute while had he taken the sixteen minutes
for the same course he would. it is true
have received l franc and 10 centmes but
the price per minute would only have been
6 confines