Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-10


eruiehes.
,-.,,,lias by the hundreds.
,.nhIans, generally speaking, are
s.blv forgetful and absent-minded
sbould any one question the truth
r.s an unpleasant Indictment a visit
.d ost and Found" Department of
s,a,dslphia Rapid Transit Company,
"a pauphin streets, will quickly
~ al doubts.
lilac IN the records of that de-
e1r, X 900 articles of every conceiva-
sisd wore left on the street cars in
w, nv forgetful Philadelphians dur
~ year ending August l. OF this
~ %snnroxImately 1900 have been re-
.afelv TO their respective owners
IN, remainder have either been given
n. ..rsons who found the various arti-
y no cars or are still being held
", ~ regular SO-day period during
.sr.h articles are held, has elapsed.
g,,-s "a scarcely any portable article
.s,rshle that cannot be found in the
-, Company's Lost and Found"
~ The first peep inside of the door
-r.ests the storeroom of a pawnshop.
a, an Instant later this suggestion Is dis
,..,sa for who would pawn pet An
~. ~, or dinner bucket well filled
In lnnob or a set of false teeth? They
:, oniv n few of the unusual articles
,Slob we're found on the cars during the
ast year
SOME LOST ARTICLES.
Then there are pocketbooks, some well
srsd and others slim and worn; jewelry.
tolh real and imitation; garden tools,
BbIes, schoolbooks from every grade,
snItcases high silk hats, ladies' hats,
roats and gloves without number; fishing
sekle. every nameabe article of cloth
ng for both men and women; revolvers,
automobile tires, automobile licenses,
lIquor mostly whisky, and above all UNI
brellas
Al the present time there are, in round
numbers, 500 umbrellas standing in the
s'Lost and Found department awaiting
claimants who can prove that they are
'he rlghtful owners. There are plenty of
tialmants for everything, but the officials
b the office have a system whereby the
ownership must positively be demon
'lrated before the articles are returned.
FIFTEEN CLAIM 500 RING.
The reasons for this precaution are OBJ
Vious Recently a diamond ring valued
II 800 was claimed by Is persons. The
ting was without initials or inscription
b any kind and It was only by clever
Elective work that the II imposters were
EFeied out and the ring was restored
% the young woman who had a right to
esaTh
The officials Of the department, how
ever. are still puzzled by the fact that
y persons should have known that the
ring was lost on a certain car at certain
time
Further, there are many persons who
lhnk they have left articles on the troll
kY ears when they have left them at
bone or In some other place. 1t is not un-
Usual 70 have an indignant woman de-
lqapee as dishonest the crew of the car
@ which she supposes she has lost some
laease and later to have her apologize
sFT the telephone when she finds the
supposedly lost article safe at home.
THREE CHIEF QUESTIONS.
ne Transit Company has a careful sys-
lsR 10y Identifying each of the articles
- tAN ANAltlS OF lGlGDnOne calls
cone 70 the Lost and Found" depart
z'al each person is asked to come in
llsqn and prove the ownership of the
NEE The time when the article was
~ sne car or car line on which it was
and careful description of the arti- |
llseN are the three things most empha- |
- IN the eross-eXamination. Each ap- |
.aaAt must be prepared to answer these |
lhlngs quickly and straightfor- |
]. = some cases, where the Identification |
: 3 made without difficulty. as in the
q check book with the owners |
~ -. ana address, or a book similarly |
lhe articles are returned by mail |
~ ). ae owner has replied to a notice
4. ~ or her property has been found.
sslssl Tor postage usually accompa-
Ne notice to the Individual, although
~ ~ hot always forthcoming.
asl the articles have been kept for 30
wey are returned to the finder.
pslson is usually the conductor or
IN. d'sylinan on the trolley car. Occa-
~, Is some passenger. In the case
80 OF considerable value they are
W " or even 120 days. Event
~ ~ are all returned to the finder.
~ ssApstles show that only about IS
i. ss1s.ol y all things found are returned