The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-15

be interested in what Lon
don correspondent of the Sun has to
say about cab charges in Europe.
Even in Scranton this subject will have
interest. In most of the countries Of
Europe, while cab charges are nominal
ly lower than in the United States, the
drivers, by one method or another,
manage to eXtort from the uninitiated
traveller a liberal overcharge. 1t has
remained for Germany to provide
system under which the tourist is as
sured of absolute protection. This Is
the correspondents description of it:
1.-The visitor to Berlin with baggage
will probably have his first experience
with an exact duplicate of the London
four wheeler, which passes under the
name of a 'gepack' drOSky, or baggage
cab, capable of carrying things on the
roof. If he has no heavy baggage
there are three classes of cabs to
choose from: the first-class drosky,
which is like a New York hack, with
side doors and folding leather top, but
only one horse; the second-class dros-
ky, smaller, dirtier vehicle, with a
very poor horse; the taxometer drosky,
so named because of the machine which
it carries for measuring fares. The
taXometer is a duplicate of the French
fiacre in appearance, with no side
doors. top over the back only. large
seat behind and small folding ledge
in front. These three classes of We
hicles can be distinguished by a glance
at the drivers hats. The first-class
drosky drivers wear black enameled
plug hats with a silver band. The Sec
ond class have the same hats, but very
faded looking, with gold bands. The
taxometers all wear white enameled
plug hats with black bands.
"The little machine from which the
taxometer cabs take their name can do
everything but think. 1t is combi-
nation of cyclometer, adding machine,
timekeeper and lightning calculator.
The machines are placed on the seat to
the right of the driver and present to
the traveller round dial, about foot
in diameter, on which appear various
tie round holes. The largest figures are
for the class of tax to be collected.
First class, figure l, In red, Is for
one or two persons. Second class, fig
ure 9, in blue, is for three or more per-
sons. Figure 3, in black, is for out
A full explanation of what all the fig
ures mean is printed underneath. Chill
dren do not count.
"The taxometer Is worked by a stud
on-the hub of the rear wheel. Every
time this wheel makes complete revo-
How much it multiplies before it
reaches the smaller figures on the face
of the barometer depends on which of
the larger figures, l, 2, 3, has been set
by the driver. The smaller figures
show the amount of money that is to
be paid Everything begins at so pfen-
nings, or 12 cents, which is the smallest
charge for any distance. How far you
can travel for this II cents depends on
tho tax number set by the large fig
ures, and the so pfennigs will not ad-
vance to 60 until this initial distance
has been covered.
"For first tax this distance is about
l,1O0 yards; for second tax about three
quarters as far, and for third tax lit
tie more than half. AS soon as this ini-
tial distance has been covered the tax
ometer begins TO advance, 10 pfennigs
al time, for every additional 500 yards
for first tax, and for shorter distances
I'm proportion for the other taxes. AS
long as you drive, this cash register is
continually before you and you can
tell at any moment how much you
have spent up to that time. IL you
stop during journey, to make pur-
chase in shop. for instance, the clock
work part OF the taxometer goes on