Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-03

RipPIes On the Current OF Life In the
Metropolis.

hAnnAen On the current OF LANe IN Ame
Metropolis.
The editor Of a Philadelphia monthly,
reared in the gentle mannerly life hal
lowed in the traditions Of the Quaker
City, occasionally Journeys to New York
to receive a few impressions Of the siren
uous pace, the uncouth speech and the
long reach which takes high rank In the
Justly celebrated features of the big city.
The editor gets what he seeks and tells
what he knows. Regarding recent ex-
perience he writes:
IL ever a lost art was represented by
people it is the art of courtesy among
those who serve the public in New York
City. Motormen, conductors. cabmen'
salesmen and even the policemen seem
to vie with each other as to who Will ex-
eel in the art Of bad manners
Stand on a New York street corner, for
instance, and hail trolley; car after car
will whirl by you, with the motorman as
absolutely regardless Of you as II you
did not exist. Four of these cars rushed
by me the other day and 1 jumped on the
fifth, took my stand near the motorman'
and called his attention to four women
at the next corner whom he passed
Didn't those women want to get on?'
1 asked.
"They did" was the Illuminating an
swer.
Don't you stop this car when people
want to get on7"-I continued.
II do when think It's right-seeT' he
answered, and then turning to me he To-
litely added: And l can do IL without
your help, too"
Two blocks further up and a policeman,
who had boarded the car, nudged the mo-
torman and indicated with a side motion
Of his head a man Standing on the cross
ing with two women. hailing the car with
one hand while in the palm Of the other
he showed a quarter! The car stopped in
stantly; the man got on the front plat
form, and as he passed the motormaR he
slipped the quarter into the lstter's pocket
The passenger took seat in the car. 1
went in and sat next to him,
Pretty expensive that sort of thing, isn't
it7" / ventured.
1T is" said the man, but I've found
it's about the only way to ge these hends
to notice you. and I'm in hurry"
And so, / thought, II has come to this
in New York-5 cents to stop car and 5
cents to ride in It!
went to a theater box once and asked
for two seats for the evenings perform
ance and their location.
-Four dollars" came the reply as two
tickets were slid under the glass window.
Let me see the diagram, please"
asked. II want to see where the seats
are"
Good seats" came the answer. Take
them or leave them"
"I'n answer that question, my friend"
replied, when 1 see the diagram, and
I'll keep this line behind me waiting until
/ do see It,"
And then there was slammed down in
front Of me the diagram, and the two seats
were back Of a post, of course!"
The combined elevated and underground
system of the Interborough Rapid Transit
company took in 1,4S6,777 nickels on Mon
day, November e6 and established a new
record for the heaviest day of traffic. More
passengers were carried than ever before
in the history OF the combined or separate
companies.
II the company were to turn the receipts
for that day over to one of its faithful
daily patrons that man could ride twice a
day on the subway, seven days in the
week, for 2,0366 years, and still have 430
rides or so coming to him. It's awful to
think OF the distance he could ride during
that time, but he could be well on his way
to the sun were he bound in that direction
out into the armament. -
The income for the day to the company
was more than $4,000.
The passengers carried on the elevated
lines not only exceeded the high record
for last year. but passed the record for
1904, which has been the banner year thus
far, showing that 1t has not only regained
the traffic originally lost to the subway,
but is now carrying larger crowds than
ever.
The elevated lines carried 917,143 passen-
gers, an increase OF IS, 235 over the corre-
spending day last year, a gain over the
best day in 1904. The subway carried &c.,
834 passengers, which is an increase of
day OF last year.
On this business of one day the total
revenue of the Manhattan lines and the
subway shows an Increase Of Ss.5s4.92 over
the corresponding day of last year.
For over a year Mrs. Rice OF New York
has been trying 10 find some federal, state
or municipal official who would confess
that he had the authority to stop the un-
necessary blowing of steam whistles In New
York harbor and on the North river
Finally. with the aid OF Secretary Shaw,
the supervising inspector Of the steamboat
inspection service OF the Second district
was convinced that he had jurisdiction and
an order has been Issued which does all
that Mrs. Rice hoped for.
According to the circular issued. the use
OF sirens on merchant vessels is strictly
forbidden. Any pilot violating the order
will be liable to trial for dangerous mis-
while going 10 a hre. but not while re-
turning Private signaling with whistles is
forbidden except in case Of distress. Amy
pilot who uses the whistle In the future, as
has been the common practice in the past,
TO call the attention OF watchmen or other
persons on shore or on other vessels, will
be liable TO suspension. Even II com