San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-16
FRANK SAWYER
of Boston. Mass.

Frank Sawyer originated up in Bos-
ton less than 80 years ago, but de-
spite the dismalings of many people
about vanished chances for young
men. he has already left behind him
trail of stirring episodes which !
shall try to compress into this brief
romance.
The unacceptable operation OF fate
had projected this youth into the COM
mon net of inconsequential things
Like millions of boys, no dazzling
lights led him on. While still a mere
boy. he was driving a cab in the maze
of Boston streets. His wages and the
conditions under which he worked
were those of the mass. This net or
circumstance seemed tangled about
him in an inextricable way. zu
l don't suppose he reasoned out any
far-reaching plan Of escape, but deep
down in his brain was revolt-coupled
with the vague but undeniable realiza-
| ton that upon himself alone devolved
the possibility of untangling the mesh
| that chained him. He did not seek
Bolshevik literature. but put his first
$50 of savings into a deposit on .
cab of his own.
Even such a short time ago, taxi
riding in Boston was more or less
| luxury. Frank Sawyer dimly saw that
some day the market for taxi service
must be immensely bigger. With great
tenacity he saved. and paid, and be-
came an actual proprietor. 81
Soon he signed a contract for a
second taxi. In 1916 he acquired a
stand at the Hotel Westminster, and
| laboriously working day and night, he
had achieved the ownership of five
taxicabs when the great war broke
Returning from the service, he went
back TO his taxi project with ideas eS-
panded. His own mental development.
had been such that he realized the
necessity of seeking information, and
he made an intensive study OF sucs
cessful taxicab enterprises elsewhere.'
Equipped with invaluable facts and
| figures. he now got together some OK
| his personal friends and sold them thu,
idea of little taxicab company, which
was Incorporated for $1,000. Twelve
taxicabs were ordered and delivered.
and so began Frank Sawyer's greater
undertaking. ga
Today he has 125 taxicabs in opera,l
| ton, with others in prospect. He has
done much taxi pioneering, especially
for low rates, incidentally helping
along a new era in Boston taxi serv-
| ice.
| might say here that all over the
country there is at work sweep OF
lower taxi rates and better service.
Not much longer will the buccaneers
hold sway. for trained and visioneCi
men are coming forward TO displace
! the ignorance and greed which or
themselves defeat their ends. -
Mr.. Sawyer attributes much Of hisi
success to the employment Of good,
drivers. and TO their development.
Drivers must be married and have
children, and the company investigates
their antecedents.
To make them careful drivers, in
centives are offered and demerit
system used. Reckless driving. acct-s
dents, slovenly appearance OF tho
driver or his cab. discourtesy, and
other clements enter into this sysE
TEN. Prizes are given, free life insur-
ance furnished. and medical and legal.
advice are made available. .sl
Perhaps there is no field that Of
fers quicker possibilities than thiss1
though no man should undertake 10,
without the most thorough preliminary
training. Otherwise absolute failure
must follow. Motor traffic has become
distant calling, recognized by some
universities and rapidly shaping up
as a business science. m