The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-01
A TITLED CHAPMAN.
Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot Has a
 Tremendous Rusiness


 Tremendous Business.
 There are 26,OO0 cabs in London and nearly all of them belong to one man, and nobleman at that, for the pre- mier earl of England, he of Shrewsbury and Talbot, has vast income from the cab business of the largest city in the world. The earl gives his pet hobby as the "cab trade and he is so fond of cabs that he frequently drives them, and, although he is a man of vast wealth, he seeks his fares as eargerly along the Strand and Piocadilly as any oster cabby that ever cracked whip. It Is impossible for any one who has visited London to think of that city without background of hanson cabs looming up through the fog and smoke that still cling to his memory, for cabs are as much Q part of the gloomy old city as Westminster Abbey or the Parliament House.
 Next to bowling on the top of a bus there is nothing that the London. streets have to offer quite so delightful as ride in any easy riding hanson. The smooth motion, the sense of free com that the wide view before one affords, and the spice of danger ever present as the daring Jehu of the cab graze hubs and horses with splendid skill, go to make up the keen enjoy= ment of a cab drive over the asphalt pavement.
 The wise person picks Shrewsbury and Talbot hansoms every time, for they are strictly up to date-rubber tires, air cushions, Russia leather up- holstery and ivory fittings. These things marked revolution in cabs when the young earl started out to run his cab company. He was the very first person to introduce rubber tired cabs in London and Paris. The horses attached to his cabs are we'll groomed and clean linbed, and the harness black and with shining brass nlountings, not to mention that the Shrewsbury and Talbot cabbies are ob- sequious and smart in silk hats and buttonholes.
 All these luxuries cost are no more than the inconVentences of a shabby cab, and as there is such an army of cabs in London why may not one take his pick of the best there are?
 Aside from the enjoyment to be de- rived from dash over asphalt pave ments in a London hanson. few peo- pie realize what these two-wheeled chariots mean to the great city for the London cab constitutes mighty insti- tuition that is highly commendable for the utility and comfort 1t affords at a wonderfully low price.
 The cab industry is in the hands of 3 large number of men, about four thou sand, many of whom own three or fouI cabs which they let out, and are known by the title of "mushers."
 The first large cab company of any note was that of the Earl of Shrews- bury and Talbot, founded in 1883, lsis stables at Tixall accommodating foui hundred and fifty horses with theil grooms. The finest cabs in London be long to this company.
 The London Imperial Cab Company a recent enterprise has undertaken the 1 management of about five hundred cabs of an improved pattern. Tht company has a large depot off Gray's l Inn road, with stables, sheds, &shoeine forges, harness rooms and painting ant I repairing shops. At Chelsea. too, fl ] has built large stable, three stories high, fashioned in a square about 2 I court, where the cabs stand.
 l Before a cab is allowed to go on tht street three payments have to be made i five shillings for a driver'sA. license two pounds for hackney carriage Ii