The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-04-10
GIT IS IMPRACTICAL" :"


In 1885, as a boy, wanted to do
something for myself, and sneaked off
to Baltimore and secured a place as
conductor on the horse cars OF the
City Passenger Railway Co. Horse
cars were the only kind that were
practical for Baltimore at that time.
nthis experience of mine, although
1 should forget all else, I am sure /
would never forget one Bulkley, who
was known at that time as superin-
tendent of the Green Line. He has
since become very real to me as what
is today called lieutenant of capt.
talism, and as 1 now see him think
it was very fitting that he should be
placed in charge of the Green Line,
for green man ought to be with the
thing he is like.
But as youth OF seventeen, when
l was the creature of Bulkley, had
very different opinion of him. More
than once did this swearing, cursing
lieutenant cause me to cover and
shiver with fear. Bulkley thought
all of the men under him mere chill
dren, who knew nothing, and he
made it point to lecture them every
morning before he sent them to work.
Here is sample of one of his lee
lures He had the evening before at
tended the commencement at the
Polytechnic Institute, and he told his
conductors and drivers (remember
Bulkley's cars were horse cars, that
the speaker of the evening addressed
the boys as follows: "Well you We
learned a trade, you say you have,
you think you have. Let me tell
you, you have lot yet to learn. So
say to you, conductors and drivers,
you've learned to run car, you say
you have, you think you have. Let
me tell you, you have lot yet to
learn.
Of course, the conductors and the
drivers had lot to learn. Bulkley
had nothing to learn. He knew it
all. Let us see.
There was an electric car being op-
perated on just one block, about one
or two hundred yards, just for the pur
pose off showing it of, and having
the company for which Bulkley cursed
and swore so regularly and SO indus
triously, become interested enough in
it to put it into operation on their
system. Bulkley, with some other
lieutenants, were sent out to witness
a demonstration. I and few other
ignoramuses, who had so much yet
to learn, just followed the great men
as a few boys follow their daddies.
Bulkley talked knowingly, and used
high sounding language This was
no doubt to still further show his su-
periority over us small fellows. But
1 shall never forget Bulkley's conclu-
sion. His words are still clear In my
mind. Here they are: Electric
cars may do in some places. They
are impractical for Baltimore. -
/ quit street railroading in the fall
to finish my education, and left Bal
timore for twenty years.
Last summer paid visit to the
old scenes. There was not horse
car in the city. Nothing but electric
cars everywhere. 1 rushed to the
shed where 1 used to stand morning
after morning in 1885 in fear and
trembling of the severe lieutenant. |
asked: "Where is Bulkley z" No
body knew of him. l explained.
Then they remembered that he died
some years ago, and had gone to his
reward.
"Where are all of those horse cars
that were in use here in 1885" l
inquired, after 1 was assured that
Bulk1ey was dead. "Oh, they be-
came entirely impractical for Balti.
more, and were thrown aside" l
see, 1 see, they went on the same
road as Buckley. The question of
practicability depends upon the time,
place and the men.-SouM Dakota
Herald.