The million-peopled city
Garwood, John
1853
The Condition of the London Omnibus Men, and their present Numbers.
The importance and the vastness of the London omnibus traffic have been thus fully referred to, that with increased force the solemn question may be asked, " And what is the position of omnibus men ?"-by whom are meant the driver, the conductor, and the ostler, for each omnibus gives full employment to these three parties, in addition to stable- keepers, time-keepers, and a variety of other dependents, Seven persons may be reckoned as required for every two omnibuses, which will give a total of 10,500 persons, if the number of London omnibuses is reckoned at 3,000. As, however, the driver and the conductor are the parties with whom the public are chiefly familiar, in connexion with omnibuses, to them more particularly reference will here be made. The number of licensed omnibus-drivers on Dec. 31, , was 1,949, and of licensed omnibus-conductors, 2,227. To these may probably be added 2,000 supernumeraries, or "odd hands," as they are called, by which is meant men who drive or conduct occasionally, and 3,000 horse- keepers. | |