The Unwanted 'Souvenir' of a Rainy Tacoma Commute
Commuters on the Tacoma Railway & Power Company lines faced flooded cars and dripping seats, turning a simple transit ride into a soaked ordeal.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
During the rainstorm yesterday afternoon, the Tacoma Railway & Power Company grasped the opportunity to show its deep consideration for the Tacoma public by presenting 'souvenirs' to the passengers on the cable cars. Shortly after the shower commenced, the little pneumonia breeders were soaked and water stood in puddles on the seats and floors. Every passenger, whether riding on a cash fare, ticket or transfer, was given the choice of a sitz or shower bath without extra charge. In fact, the 'extra attractions' were forced on a good many people. Ladies who did not wish to be placed under obligations to the company by accepting anything more than they paid for got gracefully out of the difficulty and kept reasonably dry by standing on the seats. At the corner of Eleventh and K streets a half dozen ladies clad in freshly laundered white dresses boarded one of the sloppy cars and the sight caused consternation among them. 'Oh dear, what shall we do?' wailed one. 'We can't sit down, and if we stand up we'll be spattered all over.' The gripman heard the plaintive wail and it touched his heart. 'Ye needn't get wet,' he said. 'Just jump right in here,' and he made room for them in the middle of the car. They eagerly accepted his offer, and though the quarters were close and they were in danger of being hit by the grip and brake levers, they appeared grateful for the accommodation. The water did not cost the T.R.P. company one cent.
“Every passenger, whether riding on a cash fare, ticket or transfer, was given the choice of a sitz or shower bath without extra charge.”
Public transit quality and the responsibility of private operators have been a recurring point of civic friction in Tacoma for over a century. While modern passengers today expect working heaters and dry seats, the satirical tone of this report captures a long-standing tension between the public and private utility monopolies.
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