The sun., 1901-11-24
TROUBLES OF A TROLLEY ROAD.
Two incidents showing where Some OF
tho PrOnts Go.

\
PouoHKEEPsIE, Nov. 23-The superin-
tendent Of an electric street railway system
In q small city In the interior Of the State
left OF checking the accounts OF the en-
ployees to chat few minutes with friend
who had dropped In. Before the conversa-
tion had got any further than the state OF
the weather, a nervous little man bobbed
| in with the remark that he really couldn't
SEQ why II was necessary to transfer pas
sengers TO the north side when the Main
street car might just as well go straight
| through.
"Ill make memorandum Of that the
superintendent said, a weary expression
settling over his features.
| But
my dear sir.' interrupted the superin-
| tendent, Il don't own this road. l only
run it to suit the ideas Of the President
| and tho stockholders who have money
invested In 1t and who think they know
little bit about the business themselves.
Good day
The little man retired with the remark
that IL that was the case he would be glad
OF an opportunity TO present his views TO
the President and the stockholders.
A dozen people come in bere every day
TO tell me I don't know anything about
running railroad, said the superinf endent
If had the cars running in circles and
squares. going cross lots and over oblongs
and triangles and had line in operation
straight up 10 the gates Of paradise. ther
| would shortly happen in q white-winged
angel with happy suggestion
| You don't find your business whiriing
round OF pleasure said the friend.
Let me tell you of an experience had
III IL rt..s.s 4RtaN la.
sps rss JONES ss,S the ssnns Hollow
waylaid me with claim. for damages for
| the death OF horse which was run over
and killed on the Barleytown extension.
How did II happenT sked.
| Said Bill: i want yer ter know that that
hoss was Hambletonian en- l wouldn't er
tux s.So cash fer 'er.'
| But bein' she's done fer. I don't know
b'gosh. b'wst I'll settle fer $500 rather than
sue yer
1T took me an hour to find out that while
Jones was driving in from Skunk's Hollow
| with an animated hat rack that must have
cost him all Of a, hitched to a load of hoop
poles for which he was to get q upon de,
livery, his walking bone heap. weakened
aAs luck Would have It the animal dropped
toward and on the track instead OF away
from i. Fortunately. the motorman
ON the brakes which saved the car from
being deraied and wrecked.
| Il went out with Jones and looked over
the departed Hambletonian and even the
| dead animals owner didn't have the nerve
| with the accusing corpse in sight to renew
| his offer TO settle for S4OO But he still
insisted that he ought 10 have damages.
What should we pay you anything forT
] asked. From your own statement the
| horse fell in front of the car and the accident
uyaa xnll far mot .,atr.
orter git somethin', insisted Jones.
'WhyY l asked again.
Well, said Jones, you're rich and I'm
poor, en- you orter pay me somethin', l
amt got no hoss now
Now see here said finally, this
road isn't a charity bureau and IA we are
not responsible for the death OF your horse.
don't see why we should pay anything.
Still, II you really think that the accident
wasn't your fault and that the notorman
IL you were running big business enter
prise you wouldn't keep careless men in
your employment, would you?
Well-er-no,' said Jones haltngly
IF our men are to blame. | continued.
they must settle with you for the damages
| and I'll fire them besides
with that dismissed Jones. He hunted
| up the motorman and conductor and they
gave him s3 between them TO settle the
| case. OF course / returned the money
| 10 them. II hadn't known my business
would have booted Jones out OF the Office
| and some slick lawyer would have got his
case and soaked the road for s4OO damages.
| He would have got 81 for his share and the
lawyer would have taken the other s3eI.
| Now Jones has his 81 and IL just as well
| OF and ] have saved the road 1897.
y want TO tell you Of ons more incident
| to show you the kind 90 nerve you have
to run up against in this business. On the
! Short line we have been running bobtail
cars, travel being light and the Receipts
| not enough 10 pay two men ~ car. Tho
! fare ia. or rather has been, 10 cents. or We
! offered 10 sell four trip tickets for quarter.
| All at once We noticed that the short lino
| was going from a cash To a ticket basi-
! ! though AZ first that the mntorman had a
! private speculation ou hand and i Jared
! him hard. With no result
| Then ] put 70 spolter on the cars and
| the first trip out he ran acrO~s "A bsneN osent
! looking old chap who was doing land-ofilct
| business collecting cash fares from the
| passengers aud substituting tickets for
them. Ne put the tickets ia the box and
! pnCketed tho caSh
| Tn" spoi'Ar demonstrated and The fakif
! had 70 Rcknow ledge thai the trensac'iuu
! was doubtful one from the COMPANY =
point IT vics, but he wouldn't give up the
| dimes