HACKMEN AND THEIR WAYS.
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There is a well-grounded suspicion in some quarters that only the
hackmen of Niagara can compete with the hackmen of Chicago in
their fondness for extortion and their success in practicing it.
Yet, while it is very true that most Chicago hackmen are imbued
with a praiseworthy desire to earn all they can, and are none too
conscientious in their ambitions to acquire riches rapidly, there
is a very easy manner in which to avoid disputes, namely: make your
bargain with your Jehu before you enter his vehicle. If, after such an
arrangement, he endeavors to impose upon you at the end of the ride,
you may be sure he is trying to give you the worst of it. In such
a contingency, which may arise in very rare cases, pay him nothing
whatever until you have called a policeman. It is part of every
policeman’s duty to familiarize himself with the schedule of legal
cab fares, and he will settle the dispute in very short order. It will
be found, however, that most of the public hackmen are pretty square
fellows, a little bit prone to try for the best it, maybe, but always
amenable to reason,--particularly if it be a uniformed officer who
talks the “reason” to them.
As a general thing it will be found that the street-cars provide ample
facilities for transportation to any given point in any direction.
There is a uniform fare of five cents on all the lines, and for this
trifling sum one may ride many miles on any of the cable lines.
These lines run direct to all the parks and most people choose this
inexpensive mode of traveling. Occasionally, however, parties desire
a more luxurious mode of transit, preferring to visit the parks in
a carriage and drive about in the pleasant intricacies of the leafy
aisles instead of traveling afoot; in which case an understanding with
the driver before the start is made becomes an imperative necessity.
But in order that there may be no mistake it is just as well to set
forth briefly the legal rate for cab-hire established by the city
ordinance.
The charge of conveying one or two passengers from one railroad depot
to another in a hack--by which term is signified a vehicle drawn
by two horses--is one dollar; for conveying one or two passengers
any distance over one mile and less than two miles, $1.50; for each
additional two persons of the same party, fifty cents. For conveying
one or two passengers any distance exceeding two miles the charge is
$2.00--fifty cents more for each additional passenger of the same
party. Children between the ages of five and fourteen years call for
half rates, but there is no charge for youngsters under five--providing
that the distance they are carried does not exceed one mile. In case
it is desired to charter a hack for the day the charge is $8. Four
persons may ride in this way, from point to point, stopping as often
as they may wish. Or the hack may be chartered by the hour, the charge
for which system is as follows: Two dollars for the first hour and one
dollar for each additional hour or part of an hour. As to baggage, each
passenger is allowed to carry without charge one trunk and twenty-five
pounds of other baggage. For each additional package so carried the
driver may charge fifteen cents. Baggage of course is only carried on
short trips, between railroad depots and hotels, it being presumable
that no traveler wishes to take his trunk with him out to the park or
to the World’s Fair grounds.
The rates for hansom cabs, or other one-horse vehicles, is much
lower, being twenty-five cents per mile or fraction of a mile for
each passenger. By the hour, seventy-five cents for the first hour
and twenty cents for each quarter of an hour thereafter. For service
outside the city limits and in the parks: for the first hour, one
dollar, and twenty-five cents additional for each quarter of an hour
thereafter. It should be remembered that no time engagements will be
made by any driver for less than an hour.
It is the duty of every hackman and cabman to have posted conspicuously
in his vehicle the rates of fare as quoted above. The law requires him
to do so. But even if he has complied with the legal requirements it is
just as well to make the bargain with him before starting, particularly
if the journey be a long one. Disputes can be most easily avoided in
that way.
Many people prefer to secure their carriages from the hotel livery
stables. The charge in that case will be somewhat higher, with a
corresponding advantage, of course, in the point of style.
When a party of twenty to thirty people wish to take an outing in
the parks the best plan is to charter a coach, or “tally-ho,” as it
is generally called, and the charge for which is $25 to $30 for the
afternoon or evening. When divided up equally between the gentlemen
of the party the cost is by no means ruinous. These coaches are drawn
by four or six horses and the ride is always an enjoyable, not to say
exhilarating, one. It is considered _de riguer_ on such occasions for
the two handsomest men in the party to station themselves at the foot
of the ladder and help the ladies up to the best seats on the roof of
the coach.
For the journey to Jackson Park and the World’s Fair grounds hacks and
cabs are little in demand for the reason that, if the cable cars are
not considered quick or commodious enough, the Illinois Central trains,
which run every few minutes, stop at the South Park station, at the
very gates of Jackson Park.