New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-29

alley through which the horses were led to and
from their work. The trucks were allowed to
stand in the street
AS class. the truckmen were Industrious
sober and trustworthy; nearly all made money
and saved 1t. They had neither union nor or
ganization OF any kind, but had occasional So
cial gatherings; but there was a spirit of good
fellowship among them, and desire 10 help
one another. which is still characteristic Of the
vocation. The men were all anxious to do bust
but rarely TO the loss OF a competitor. and
when truck boss had more business than he
could handle it was nothing unusual for the
man next door" to pitch in and help him
out" Some Of the more ambitious members OF
the craft took contracts for hopping or strap
ping cases, and received extra compensation for
the work but that part OF the business never
became general with the truckmen.
TRUSTED EMPLOYE
The trucks have grown larger and better as
business increased. many Of the bosses have
outgrown their Greenwich village homes. and
better streets and increased facilities for hand
ling freight at the stations have made great
changes in the trucking business But nothing
has taken place to disturb the boss truckman in
his place as a trusted and valuable empoye
Money to pay freight charges and c. O. Dis is
given to him Sithout hesitation and in Some
instances ne II looked upon a. a confidential
man. He knows the names and addresses OF
the concerns customers and many matters OF
business detail and for that reason competing
houses rarely employ the same drayman.
John W JacOhus who has been n boss truck
man for thirty years said that the men in his
nv
with confidence and respect "An through the
drygoods district" ne said there truck
men who have been with their concerns from
ten 10 thirty years, and just a. the bosses have
kept their places have the men who do the
actual work OF loading the trucks and driving
the horses have men IN my employ who have
been with twenty-five and twenty-eight
years and when truCkmen are az well known
as / know them people see that they are good
men. many Of them church people. although
pedestrians on crowded street might not sus-
pect il.
The expense connected with keeping trucks
is much greater than IT A few years ago.
Then could leave the wagons In the street
and needed barn. In Colonel Warnings days
that practice came to end. and now all
trucks must be housed and truckmen must
have additional stable room at increased ex-
pense. Truckmen have always received fair
but the pay has not always been
calculated the same way. and even now there
is no uniformity in that part Of the business.
Some truc kmen are paid by the or pack
age some receive salary In addition ~ their
piece work and some calculate their pay by tho
mark On several cases consigned "a the
same person requiring only one bin Of lsding
there is q reduced rate for trucking and such
consisnments are calculated by the mark.
Three asses count for one mark. and fractions
Of three for an additional mark
Nearly all bosses have their business ar
ranged that they are not dependent on one
branch OF trade. In the months when the dry
goods trade IS dull they keep their trucks busy
in some other branch. and by proper manage
ment truckman may succeed IN keeping his
prople we'll employed at all times Of the year The
auto-truc may be good thing but il viii not
succeed i'll uiping the truckmdn.