The Wasp — 1889 — page 314: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1889 San Francisco cartoon satirizes the city's cable car system. The cartoon depicts a widow demanding "justice" from a Cable Car Magnate, who dismissively replies that her request is "too expensive." The satire criticizes cable car operators for prioritizing profits over passenger safety. The widow's presence suggests someone has died in a cable car accident—likely a common occurrence causing public outcry. The magnate's response that justice is "too expensive" mocks the industry's resistance to safety improvements or compensation to victims' families, implying they valued money over lives. This reflects real tensions in 1880s San Francisco between growing public transportation systems, corporate accountability, and public safety concerns.