Evening star., 1943-07-31

said. "She finally came in, gave
him 500 reward, and since then
has sent him postcards from all
over the country"
Another woman once reported
lost $500 fur neckpiece with
II tails and diamonds for eyes"
A colored youth recently came to
the Office and inquired: Have you
got my skunk"
1T it's here. I'm leavin'," 1t.
Harrington replied, grinning.
The young man WAS perturbed.
II just bought it brand new for
$3.50 and heard cab driver picked
it up" the boy said.
Marriage License Missing.
The matter finally was cleared up.
The youth was a truck driver and
the Skunk" he referred to was a
chain which was suspended from
the truck to ground it. The
skunk" had got caught In the car
tracks.
One. man recently called the Pub
lie Vehicles Office to inquire if his
marriage license had been found.
Occasionally persons call the ONCE
to complain that they've lost" an
occupant of the cab in which they
were travelling.
Its funny thing-humans get
lost, too" 1t. Harrington said
Maybe man gets out of a cab to
go to an Office on business matter.
The wife sits in the cab Then she
gets restless ana starts window
shopping. The husband returns,
finds his wife gone, and ends up by
getting in touch with us to try to
find her"
Women are heaviest losers" 1t
Harrington said. Guess it's be-
cause they carry the most around
with them. They have to do the
shopping, you know"
A typical days losses reported to
his Office, 1t. Harrington said. in
cludes two brief cases, pair OF
shoes with gloves attached, three
canvas bags, one ladies' hat, two
cameras, mans suit, sketch book
soiled laundry wrapped in a sheet
and pair Of women's gloves with a
ticket to Boston inside them.
An indication of the number OF
articles lost and never claimed by
owners is provided by figures pro-
vided by Mr. Dougan of the Capital
Transit Co.
Cash Totaled S16,800.
Last year, 22,354 articles were lost
of which the company succeeded in
returning 1887. Losses of money
totaled s16800, of which s15549 was
returned. For the first six months
Of this year, 8,8l7 articles were lost
and 1924 were returned.
Umbrella losers were in the ma
jority. Last year, Capital Transit
employees found 5,285 umbrellas, and
in the first six months of this year,
3,035 umbrellas.
They turn up by the scores after
rain," Mr.. Dougan said.
What happens to unclaimed ar
ticles?
Capital Transit Co. keeps a lost
article about q month with the ex-
ception of money, which is kept
longer and, if unclaimed, gives it
to the person who found it. Union
Station keeps an article about six
months, and sells it at public auc-
ton if unclaimed. If lost on train,
however, the unclaimed article is
sent to the railroad company en-
whose train it was found. The Pub
lie Vehicles ONCE holds an un-
claimed article one year, then sells
it at a public auction.
Tips to Avoid Losses.
To avoid losses, officials agree,
you must keep your wits about YOU"
If you're travelling, check care
fully before leaving a hotel-always
allow at least five minutes to do
this.
When entering cab, take the
number of the cab and the COM
panys name so that in case any,
thing is lost you can make an ade-
quate report.
Keep a good grip on anything of
value, no matter where you IRE.
If you lose an article?
1t. Harrington has the answer for
that:
Report the loss, give a good ce-
scription, relax, hope for the best"