Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-28
The Street Car Cash Box.


car days will recall a conspicuous sign plainly
afnted in red and blue letters within the car which
read like this:
Change to the amount Of 81 will be fur
nished by the driver who will return the full
amount thus enabling passengers to deposit
the exact fare in the box
Under no circumstances is the driver al
lowed to receive or deposit it.
There was no known device in those times for
keeping a check on the driver, and furthermore he
had all he could do to keep the car moving-and
make the switches on schedule time. People often
complained OF the annoyance Of being obliged to
count out their change and then make the deposit
but that was all their own fault they should have
had their nickel ready when they entered the car
. Besides, the custom general and unavoidable
in cities not large enough TO have conductors, and
as Rock Island had as good a horse car system as
there was in the country considering its population,
there was no general grounds for protest.
When the first trolley cars came they were pro-
yided with fare boxes, but it was soon found that
they were not feasible. and so, according to ordn-
ance the conductor introduced At first he
was supplied with a little register attached to a
belt and every time he received fare he rang
bell Later the large register dial over the door
made its appearance and is still in vogue in most
first class systems although in the larger cities it
is operated by the conductor by means of a foot
lever which leaves his hands free to attend his
manifold duties of making change issuing transfers.
and manipulating the mechanical devices that open
and close the doors
But according to the latest order of the Tri-City
customs so far as the obligation of the passenger is
concerned. Change to a certain will be fur
snished by the conductor who will then return the
full amount thus enabling passengers to deposit the
exact fare in the box" Sounds like old times,
doesn't it? The cash receptacle stands on pedes-
tai sose 10 the entrance and is transparent that
the passenger, if he cares to. may watch the coin
which has been separated its tour through
the little chutes until it gets safely into the com
pany's strong box at the bottom. The conductor is
not allowed to receive deposit fares The trans
action is strictly between the patron and the COM
pany. The conductors duties do not permit of him
touching it The idea may have its virtues, but it
does not make it any easier for the passenger,
less he has the exact change his fingers and does
not care transfer. This the conductor may give
up as he does now. This last act tnsures double
check on the companys representatives. That is
prime object course, but there is another OBJ
vious purpose Like the abominable muzzle loading
car, where you enter and leave by the front end,
are showed back into the rear it is designed in
Time to do away with the conductor entirely, and
require the motorman to do all the work.
Why the Tri-City Railway company has adopted
it. is its business. 1t has made explanations
for the benefit of its patrons, done with the
advent Of the pay-as-you-enter car. Then the most
careful explanation made in advance, and the
fullest cooperation on the part of the public
suited.
This time the people simply told what TO
pect
It may be that controlling interests in the com
pany in these days of interocking drectorates have
put them on with an eye the royalties The pub
lie is familiar with an instance wherein great con-
tracing firm reason Of its control Of the stock
reaid Elm line. and built superstructure
OF cement and rock under the entire right of way
that for solidarity would DEFY the siege guns Of
Iiege-and then placed a single track on top of it.
in lieu Of double tracking the line, the local com
pany in the spirit of enterprise and consideration Of
its patrons that characterized its every move had
contemplated doing. Had steel manufacturers been
in the saddle at that time, the public would have
been better off. They would had double tracks
on the Elm street line
But the dominating force Of gigantic corporations
controls of course and what is for the benefit of
the people is Of least consideration despite the fact
that public utility corporations owe their very exist
eaee to the people
eminent in taking over the railroads and telegraph
and telephone systems. the people Of municipalities
Will Of local means of transportation
ss is being done in Chicago where they have, after