The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-30
Cables FACE
HARD TIMES.
Increase Of Expenses Makes
Them Get Busy.
FEED PRICES HAVE GONE A-S0ARINGG
Funerals Affected by Higher Rates
in Consequence-Horse Owners
UnpIeasantIy Surprised by
Receipt of Large Bills.

UnpIeasantly Surprised by
Receipt Of Large Bills.
Don't die at present; it's toe expeR-
sive- Wait until the price of feed has
been altered"
This IS what one may expect to hear
should he visit any OF the livery or under
I taking establishments in this city to leave
/ an order for 4 number of carriages for a
funeral CT TO purchase a coffin for the
I person who has breathed his last The
: quotation represents the general express
sion in vogue at present among the livery
! men and undeFtakeTs
! The cause of all the trouble lies in the
price of feed, which has gone soaring
I within the past two months. 4Theztvery-
men have 10 pay double prices for that
article for their horses; consequently
( when they hire out their rigs either for
funerals or private parties. the citizen
is made to respond with a sy.Iu nearly
{ twice as much as was formerly paid.
Conditions Almost Unprecedented.
The figures TO which the feed products
have attained during the past two months
have had but few equals in the memory
Of the Oldest iiyeryman in this city All
over the country. 1t is said, an advance
in price Of nearly 20 per cent has been
noted The liveryman feels it badly
enough, but the one who nearly coIIapses
is the unfortunate citizen who may be
keeping horse at the formers stable,
when he is handed a bill nearly twice as
much as he was ever called upon before
to pay
Last week the Liyerymen's Association
OF This city held an extended meeting for
the purpose OF discussing the question OF
! feed After due deliseration and dis
cussion the dorsey gents decided that
owing TO the present conditions 1T would
become necessary TO raise the price of
/ funeral specials. as such work is com
monty called, and incidentally topped the
meeting of by raising the price OF board
at their respective stables for a single
horse from 8 10 81
Plight of tie Night-LInePs
The individual who suffers most per-
haps under the existing conditions is the
typical old --nIght-Iiner, whe phys his
trade under the glare Of the are lights.
The recent raise in the price of feed has
created more CONSERVATION in their ranks
than the sight Of policeman would
should the bluecoat spot any one Of
them grabbing" or soliciting business
away from the stand. Among them it is
wsr TO the knife
Many Of the liners have to board
their teams having No stables of their
own. while others who are fortunate
enough TO possess their own shelter for
animals and carriages are bowling mad
because OF their increased feed bills The
path Of a "night-liBer" is not 'tstrewn
with roses anyhow. the regulations gov
erning them beng OF the stricteSt char
acter- But the war among them so far
as soliciting trade is concerned is on.
Rough Riding Oh the Avenue.
The fact that something has happened
10 them is best portrayed. by those cab
bies' wka make their stand in front
Of the City Pestohiee. Take a stroll over
IN their direction any hour after mid
night. The minute you step to the curb
half dozen or more pairs of eyes have
spotted" you, and in a minute. with
shrilI cry OF They're or from 2 street
urchin. the cracking OF whips, the cIat-
tering OF a score or more OF steeI-snOd
hoofs, sounding like the charge OF a cav
airy regiment, a procession OF vehicles
makes for you, rolling from side to side as
they increase their speed. Great is the
appointment 70 them should you not /
engage any one of the rigs.
Rivalry among them is today at a fever (
heat It used to be before the recent (
feed scare" that many of the cabbies /
upon making q couple Of dollars would I.
either go 10 a saloon and turn the money (
over to the bartender fer his liquid re-
freshment or else stow himself away in !
his little vehicle and sleep for several /
hours paying no attention to bushes. !
But that was IN the '-palmy old days. /
as they are called now by the cabbies.
a Times reporter saw one of the Oldest /
.'night-Iiners'' the other night who al /
once began to discuss the feed question !
Here I've got two carriages on the I
street and for the past week OF more t
neither one Of them has turned in to /
me more than two dollars apiece Now /
cut of that I've got to pay darn near |
everything-thc driver Of the team and |
the Iivery-and I get what's left-what- |
ever that Is.
a DiseOuragfnE Outlook
The high price Of feed, it is claimed by |
merchants. is due TO a shortage of the /
crop. Unless there is some change. how |
ever. in the price very. shortly, horse sery-
ice viii be at a premium and ''ye old resi- !
denter" nay once again have a chance to /
see what, in years gone, were termed /
walking funerals" while the belated in /
dividuaI who finds himself afloat on the !
Avenue after the cars have stepped run |
ming VIII have to ''hoof' it to his coy /
home in Brookland or Takoma for the /
much written and sung-about night |
jehus' VIII all have been driven TO the |
wall.