Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-12
PERFECT TAX|CAB
DRIVER IS FOUND
Dean of Capitals Hackmen
Shows Clear Record Cow
ering 42 Years.

The Traffic Bureau has found wash
ircton's perfect taxicab driver. II il
possible, even. that he is the city,
model motorist--bav none.
He is Burton Lee Bowen. 65-year- ole
dean of the Capitals hackmen. Hi,
i4-vcar old cab. one OF Henry Ford
earlier productions. has become a land.
mark at Dupont Circle. in which vicin-
ity h has done business since the DAYS
o. the old herdicS.
BowenS record speaks tor itself. In
A. wears 81 driving over washington S
streets he has never had an accident
RN0 never been arrested He hasn't
even been bawled out by traffc cop
IN all his career.
Strange though this may seem. the
facts are atteSteo to by no less a per-
son than Sergt Joseph Harrington Of
The Traffic Bureau, who IS the District
hack Inspector and bane of the life Of
unreliable taxi drivers
Yes, sir, declared Harrington YES
terday Bowen is The perfect driver.
] was sort Of skeptical myself about his
record until I took the trouble OF going
over il carefully one day. and I found
his claims 10 be absolutely verified He
never has been in any trouble Of any
kind since he has been driving cabs.
Furthermore. I have learned that
Bowen requires strange customers to
give their life history and pedigree be-
fore he'll consider accepting them as
passengers. No DRINKS or peters for
him. Most Of his customers are 'regu-
lars whom he has served for years"
Cab Is Found Easily.
reporter found Bowen yesterday
morning Al his usual stand. on MaSSa-
chuSetts avenue just west of Dupont
Circle II was not difficult to pick out
his cab Being the oldest hack in the
city, i stood out prominently among
the elittering lacquer and nickel of its
modern-dav competitors. Bowen bought
the body Of that cab IL years ago. SEC
on6 hand The engine that came with
II then lived and died another was in
stalled and outlive6 its usefulness and
the third power plant remains. It is
Just BIT wheeZy, but manages to get
about as well as ever.
Been driving cabs long2" Bowen was
asked by way Of opening the CONVEX
sation
Right long. About - years. I guess.
! carry men and women now whose
mothers had them on their laps in my
cab or herdics 80 or 20 years ago. The
new generation don't use my cab as
much as their old folks did. but that's
to be expected. ! make a good living
however"
"Sergt. Harrington says you have
never had an accident or been arrested.
How about that"
That's nice Of him to say that and
It's true. all right ! don't like to brag
about myself. but Inspector Headley
once told me he wished every driver
IN washington was as careful as am
don't claim any credit just drive
along easy and let the other fellow
have the right-of-wav, and / don't find
myself in any trouble"
Human Taximeter.
Bowen has many prominent men and
women among his customers. One of
these is Bradley Nash secretary to
Herbert Hoover Nash declares that
Bowen is human tsxiineter and can
tell exactly the right fare for any
distance without the aid of machinery
Bowen admits he judges the amount Of
fare By the distance he travels. and
tsTs 1s always gives the passenger the
benefit Of the doubt
Just nov Bowen il finding business
rather SLOW. because most Of his regu-
lar customers are away on vacation.
80 ~ = wac Gnu iE@A1E& l9 k44E
Home Apartments. Seventh and K
streets
Bowen has hopes that Henry Ford
viii hear about his ancient cab and seek
Il for his collection of antiques.
Maybe he'll give me a new Ford in
place Of it," Bowen remarked. contem-
plstiyeiy. I'd hate to part with this
car. though: we've been such good
friends so long,"