The times., 1899-10-15
MOTORS And Horse CARS
An Old Conductors Views of the
Changed Conditions.
Days When the Stage Coach Piled
between Georgetown and the NAVY
fard-somethiug About Those Who
Operate the Present Electric We
hic1es-Many Hardships to Endure.

Electricity has considerably amelior-
ated the condition OF the average railway
man." said George w Lee, an old street
car conductor to a Times reporter but
the hardships are still many and the re-
sponsibilities far greater than the public
realize
Mr.. Lee in his younger days drove a
stage on the old Vanderworken lifie which
travelled from the Navy Yard gate to
Georgetown before the civil war, and
which was superseded by horse cars in the
early sixties. He subsequently drove
horse car over the same line and was pro-
NOTED TO be a conductor, which position he
held for many years. Mr.. Lee has now re-
tired from street-car work, but his in
| terest is keen and his knowledge is up to
date
In the old days of the stage lines" he
continued, the driver was compelled to
sit upon his omnibus for sixteen or eigh-
| teen hours day. The old stage driver
! was exposed to all the eements-to the
broiling sun in summer and to the SHOWS
! and gales in winter. There was no rapid
| transit in those days, and If we made a
| trip from the Navy Yard to Georgetown
| and return in two hours we were on
schedule time.
The Old Stage Driver.
The driver had some things to do which
are now done by the conductor. He had
to collect the fares as well as drive his
horses. If he found an unruly passenger
Or one who refused to pay his fare, it was
his duty TO get down from mis- perch, en-
ter the bus and eject him. 1t was also
his duty to drive up to the curbstone and
back the bus up to it for ladies and chill
dren. But our greatest trouble was with
use to be. Their greatest pleasure was to
steal rides on the steps at the rear OF the
bus, and the drivers all carried long whips
to beat them off. Many whip / have
worn out in this way. The salary paid in
those days was from 81 to s1.25 day.
with the advent of street cars the con-
dition of the street passenger employees be-
came easier, although the long hours pre-
vailed up to a comparatively short time
ago. The wages became better on the
first-class lines however, and this was a
great compensation for our long days toll,
The pay here was 81 a day to both driver
and conductor on one or two lines, and
he received his salary every night. The
belI-punch and clock register systems were
not adopted in Washington until the '70's
Younger Men in Demand
1.-The present sytem of electricity has
driven nearly all the old-time railway men
out of the business, the companies hav-
ing adopted a rule of selection by which
younger men, with alertness, good nerves,
and clear eyes are given the preference
A knowledge of electricity is not essen
tial to become a motorman weeks
training is generally given the chosen
novice, on his own time, and he soon be-
comes skilled in the art of handling the
motor and brake and controlling his car.
There is no sliding scale on some roads,
the uniform wages of conductors and mo-
tormen being 81 per twelve hours work.
All the companies maintain an extra sub"
list which contains the names OF men hav-
ing no regular cars, but who are compelled
to report each day and take the chance OF
catching some car whose man has laid off
These substitutes often thus serve the
companies for months before luck strikes
them and they secure regular car. This
is the most irksome and poorly requited
part OF street railroading. From the first
meagre earnings of the men is deducted
the price of their uniforms, which they
are compelled TO procure. These uniforms
cost them $11, and their winter overeoats
about 81 additional.
Rules and Responsibilities.
The rules of all the companies are very
rigid upon those in charge of the moving
cars, and their work and responsibilities
are very great in comparison to the wages
afforded. The responsibility of these men
for the safety of the public has become
manifold since the adoption of electricity
and rapid transit and an extremely ner-
vous motorman soon finds himself untitled
for the work. They are not only held re-
sponsible by the law and subject to fine
and imprisonment, but they are held TO
| a severe accountability by the company for
any trivial accident that may be reported
by a passenger. Such a complaint often
results in the conductor or motorman los
ing his place, although the unlucky fellow
may not be in the slightest degree TO blame
for the accident and complaint. Passen-
gers will sometimes get off with their
backs toward the front of the car while
1t is in motion, and, naturally enough, this
is more frequently the case with women.
wait till the car stops, lady" is the
frequent warning of the conductor. He
must watch all sections of his cars, espe-
cially when they are slowing up at cross
ing, and be vigilant for the fares at all
times and under all circumstances, or the
"spotter" will catch him. No account is
taken of the lives that are saved and the
accidents that are prevented by the vgi-
liant motorman and conductor. They are
only remembered for the miShaps.