New-York tribune., 1909-01-31
WHAT A FLAT TIRE MEANS.


Il is one Of those little .Aings that mean 50
H- commented the taNicab expert Let me
q y01 sn idea # just what il means Say, for
9'zle- tie wheels on the cab you hire have, with
= blown Up, extreme diameter Of three feet
af- saeh of those wheels has a circumference then
y apogt - feet and in covering a mile, each wheel
'-a make very nearly $50 complete revolutions
'@pse ihen, that before starting. the driver, IN
'~'l 70 you lets down ore inch all the way around
: ne q the vince 10 which the Jaximeter regis
--g osvice Is attached He has reduced the cir
~-9enoe Of that wheel 6.6 feet. You do not
no any thing wrong and the trip is begun Now
-1AAos 70 reason that the wheel of the smallest
--lAeTeTce must make the greatest number OF
.'ilaons and s. 81 docs. Figure il out for your
= While the ether three wheels are only making
: ie'taltions IN covering a mile. the wheel with
eScE tire Is making 500 revolutions covering
2sne distance and although the whole cab has
= - covered only one mile inasmuch as the
= = :" The small circumference is the registering
- nearly quarter mile has been recorded
- you, and instead Of paying. say, 30 cents
= "ss' pay 50 cents. This is extreme case
=, more general way is 10 reduce the tire by one
: a Inch when the swindle is not so big hut
% pretty vel ola a long trip.
- sh TIE tricks are as subtle as the one OF the
= -e but there are many others which bear
= = testimony 10 the ingenuity Of drivers who
e : accomplished by the Dictated tire can be
- about by spreading The gears or spiral
Engages the recording mechanism so that IL
- - ~ tRo gear teeth instead Of one with each
- Increment The effect OF this is practically
= -oS he record oS the distance covered
- - more simple way" said man who has
,.4ss1eo The subject, 'fs secretly 90 operate the
w., "sef. This can be done by dishonest
t. eno tie chances are a hundred 10 one ne
- A'l oe discovered in q long time. On most
ts meters used taxicabs in tins city there Is
;.,as sd Just beneath the meter where the long
sss esr shaft Joins it. By breaking this SEAL
- = very ineonspicuous and very likely TO es-
Z -4Is' the meter is at the mercy Of the driver
s.sr spend his time while waiting for you In
a. = V between the thumb and finger OF one
y - = -lue shaft operating the mechanism, ano
-, les are yOu vii be none the wiser. or
ss.. IS orlver is taking z risk. but under the
ar... ,s.slern, without periodical inspection OF
H.. Is not such a great risk
Atzs " ls possible for a dishonest driver 70
u. - cock mechanism in the :adneter. 20
sa-ss.s' 'on fast or gain time, and you would be
- n -, :" INC how much can bs gained during -
'ai ge for waits through this means
=. SoSr OF BOGUS REPAIRS.
sa-,'ler sas way Of gaining on charges for waiting
u =. Pretend that there lie somsthing wrong
sSeasi,s1 1-.eihe. stop by the wayzde. waste tinna
e ns.se ela pretend to make repairs. leaving
2 zks s -os oo"n throughout the stop. II does
ess,elS Sleh waits during day TO run up
%ta.s,s- sc q dollar. or even two dollars And
Y ar NJ Ten 10 one. IL suca q stop 10 made
kssry - pecting cuEtomsr. that Insult ts ADDED
'ScNng uD' Tia xtsei cVerstiax tas