Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-12

Iof the Franklin Taxicab Service company,
Of which II. r. Hawke is secretary and
treasurer and c. f. Douglas is manager.
These men, both young IN years, but Old
in experience in the automobile business,
formed the Franklin TaXicab Service, com
pany only four months ago, and at the
present time they are one of the leading
TaXicab companies Of the west, giving
service that is considered on a plane
with the best in cities the size OF Chic9go
and st. Louis.
Mr. Douglas is one of the pioneers of the
Omaha taXicab industry. lie began this
line of business here two years ago and
conducted his stand al the Henshaw hotel,
on Farnam street, having at that time
three machines which We're. kept busy
during a greater share of the time II was
the great demand for taxis at his stand
that caused the beginning of plans for the
formation Of the Franklin company
In Auto Business for Years.
Mr.. Hawke has been engaged in the auto
mobile business for more than seven years
He has worked in an auto factory, sold
motor cars on the road, conducted a garage
and. indeed. seen service IN all branches
Of the business, During recent years ne
has been living in Omaha, and with Mr..
Douglas, ne a few months ago laid plans
for the Franklin TaXicab Service company,
which now is doing a large business.
This firm is making every endeavor to
have their service the most up-to-date
in the west They are taking great care
also to see that their machines give the
best satisfaction of any cars in Omaha.
An exclusive feature in the business OF
this firm Is the Wayside Telephone sys-
tenn The Franklin company is the only
taxicab concern outside Of Detroit the
great automobile center OF the United
States, that has such a system. This
service has been installed by the local
firm at a great expense and win make
their industry the most convenient for the
people OF Omaha
The Wayside Telephone system consists
OF a central ststeion, which is at the
Merchants hotel for the Franklin company
and several branch stations. The Franklin
company controls its own private lines OF
telephone wires and has branch instruments
in various parts of the city and South
Omaha.
A regulation switchboard with an opera
tor is maintained at the Merchants hotel
An operator is kept at this exchange dur
ing all hours OF the night and day. so that
PlolAPA aotNlto may ne udu az any IIne
Many stations Maintained.
! The Wayside stations are located or
telephone poles IN the distant parts OF the
city At these the drivers OF the cars
may stop at any time and communicate
with the central office IN the Merchants
hotel and receive instructions as to what
10 do. or patrons maybe use the instrl-
ments to telephone to any part OF the city
without leaving the tGxioab.
Each driver OF a Franklin car carries a
telephone instrument and wire with which
he plugs IN" az the wayslde stations The
driver is required to call the central office
after making a trip.
A driver takes a passenger 20 a distant
part OF the city, His instructions are that
he must call up the central office as soon
as he delivers thla passenger AZ tho de-
sired place ana can drive TO n wuysldc
station. He IL required to report IN this
manner because the main office may have
an order for a cab. and this order may
come from house near the station from
which the chauffeur II telephonlnR. II this
be the oase the driver can hurry TO me
place from which the order was sent This
arrangement makes the FRANKLIN service
rapid and does away with delays that
would otherwise occur many times.