If John Bull were not, with all his grumbling, one of the most patient
animals in existence, he could never have endured so long the cabs
which he has to employ for the conveyance of his person through the
streets of his metropolis. They are very poorly furnished and nasty,
far below similar conveyances in any continental city with which we
are acquainted. Greater fault still is to be found with the drivers, a
large proportion of whom are so prone to overreach, that it is hardly
possible to settle for their fares without a squabble. Our experience
leads us to say, that at an average a stranger pays 30 per cent. above
the proper sum, besides having his temper in almost every instance
ruffled to some extent by the sense of having no adequate protection
from the rudeness of this class of men. For a lady, there seems to be
no chance of escape but by the alternative of some enormous
overcharge. Altogether, this department of public economy in London is
in a most unsatisfactory state. Most people avoid using these street
vehicles whenever they can, and this is especially true of strangers.
We can state as a fact, that a provincial gentleman of our
acquaintance is accustomed to take the inconvenience of the cab-system
into account in deliberating whether he shall have a month of London
life or not. It is one of the repelling considerations, to a degree
that the Londoners themselves are not aware of.
In an age of such exquisite contrivance and precision in mechanical
and commercial matters, it might have been anticipated that the bad
system of London cabs could not long survive. All dishonest businesses
write their own doom. Those only thrive which sincerely seek the good
of the public. Accordingly, it is not surprising, at a time when
one-and-a-half per cent. is a fact in banking, to find two large and
powerful companies getting up to supersede the bad, old, dear,
cheating cabs with a new and civilised set. It is proposed by one of
these bodies to 'provide for the public a superior class of carriages,
horses, and drivers, at reduced and definite fares; to afford the
utmost possible security for property, and especially prompt and easy
redress of complaints.' With better vehicles at three-fourths of the
present charges--namely, 6d. a mile--and these to be settled for in a
manner which will preclude disputes, this company deserves, and will
be sure to obtain, the public patronage. One good feature of the
proposed arrangements will, we think, be highly satisfactory: the
company will form a sufficient magistracy in itself to give quick and
easy redress in the case of any wrong. But, indeed, from the
precautions taken as to the employment of drivers, and the hold which
the company will have over them, through the medium of guarantee and
their own deposits in a benefit-fund, it seems to us that the good
conduct of the men towards their 'fares' must be effectually secured.
The other company proposes to have two classes of vehicles--one at 8d.
and the other at 4d. a mile; and it contemplates the use of a
mechanism for indicating the distance passed over. We most earnestly
hope that both companies will succeed in establishing themselves and
carrying an improvement so important to the public into effect.