Evening star., 1936-12-06
By John CIagett Proctor.

~ JOnn LI0SeLE TfOCIOT.
~ NE Of the more interesting
phases Of the growth OF
Washington is in the de-
~ velopment Of its street trans
portation system, which began back
in 1900, the year the Federal Capital
was moved here and when the census
Of the entire District of Columbia,
including that part later retroceded
to Virginia, numbered but 1929 per-
sons, all largely living in groups widely
separated from each other.
The first introduction Of this in
dspensable public service. which be-
gan 1856 years ago. consisted in the
putting into operation Of two-horse
stagecoaches from M street and Wis
consin avenue, Georgetown, to William
Tunnicliff's Tavern, which stood on
the site of the United States Supreme
Court Building. Two trips were made
daily each way and were, no doubt.
primarily made in the interest OF
members of Congress and the few
persons then employed in the execu-
tive departments.
However, apparently people in those
days were greater pedestrian than
they are now. generally arose earlier
in the morning, had more time to get
to their places of business and con-
sequently had more time for the use
of shanks' mare or, rather, ones
own legs - in travelling back and
forth through the City of Magnificent
Distances, with the result that the
stagecoaches soon suspended opera
tions. Following this, came the advent
Of the "seagoing" hack. which, in a
sense, might be likened to an am
phibian plane, since the streets of the
city were SO muddy, after wet weather,
that q vehicle that could float was
more desirable than one that could
not.
RUT we are told this old vehicle be-
came q nuisance, for it finally
became as numerous in proportion to
population as seems the taxicab of to-
day, and that they charged exorbitant
prices and did not hesitate to over
charge the passengers, if given an
opportunity. Prior to and even subse-
quent to the Civil War as well the law
governing this type of vehicle. known
as hackney carriages, permitted the
drivers to charge 25 cents for distances
up to a mile and half. so cents up
to three miles during the daytime,
while the "night-liners" were per-
nnitted to charge double this amount.
Many will still recall the old hack
for its life was even more than three
score and ten, and only lost its use
fulness when it began to be crowded
out after the introduction here, on
February 10, 1900, of 100 automobiles
for public service-the forerunners of
the present taxicabs. But the old
hack had certainly served its purpose
well, and it was truly most service
able vehicle, for just in one single day
1t probably took some nourner to q
funeral, during the evening took q
wedding party to church, and later at
night helped some poor, helpless drunk
to find his abode. Every day was the
same-sadness, happiness and imag-
inary Joy.
All the older and more worn-out
hacks were used after dark, and no
passenger ever knew who had been
in it before he got in, or for what
purpose it had previously been used
for its uses were many, and upon one
occasion at least, a dead body. taken
from Potter's Field by body snatcher,
was found in one of these vehicles in
front Of medical school and identi-
fed as murderer who had been
hanged at the Jail that day.
The omnibus, as public convey
ance, was first introduced in Wash
tngton in 1880 and continued In opera.
ton for more than 30 years, or unit
the introduction of the street car. It
name is derived from the Latin mean
ing 'for ALL" and it might as vel
have been called carry-all, for ther,
were few passengers it ever missed
Prior to 1884 there were omnibuse
with route generally from George
town to the Navy Yard by way of n
street and Pennsylvania avenue, witt
branch lines down Eleventh street t.
the wharf and north on Seventh to
street. The fare was 1871 cents on
way.
THE competition for business by tn
drivers Of these vehicles gradual,
became 30 keen that stringent laws ha,
to be passed to protect the life ant
limb Of the pedestrians and the inter
ests Of the public, and 50 we md 4
"Webb,s Digest of the Laws Of tn
District Of Columbia" q number Q
early regulations, which, II not obso
lete, might still be enforced on publ
vehicles with good results.
One of these laws. which bears dat
Of February 10. 1862. and which seem
apropos to the present day, is the fol
lowing:
"It shall not be lawful for the drive
OF an omnibus running on the street
Of Washington by virtue Of license
which is of the ordinary size and ca
pacity Of two-horse omnibus, to hav
or take in more than II passengers a
one and the same time, that being tn
greatest number that can be convent
emily seated therein. And any perso
who shall violate this provision shall
upon conviction, be subject to q nm
Of not less than 81 nor more than s!
10 be collected as other fines are"
However, transportation Of passen
gers in the District Of Columbia ha
gradually improved from the begin