The Wasp — December 6, 1879 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "The Carrying On of the Street Cars" This satirical engraving depicts San Francisco's street car system during a period of franchise disputes. The cartoon shows overcrowded omnibuses and rail cars advertising "Free Concerts on Board" and cut-rate fares (2-3 cents), with signs promising amenities like "Hot & Cold Baths on Board, No Charge" and "Hot Lunch Included." The satire targets what appears to be competitive street car companies making absurd promotional claims to attract passengers during franchise competition. The crowded, chaotic scene suggests the system's dysfunction. The caption references "when all the franchises will have" (text cuts off), likely critiquing municipal franchise allocation policies. The common people depicted at street level represent ordinary San Franciscans navigating this commercialized transit chaos, highlighting how public infrastructure had become a competitive marketplace.