The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-08
THE AMBASSADOR OF TRADE.
What it Costs to Keep up the Army OF
Drummers-They make Billions for Their
Employers.
News and Courier

News and Courier.
A paragraph, which has been going
the rounds of the newspapers, states in
effect that it costs more money to pay
the salaries and expenses Of the travel
ling salesman of the United States than
it would take to pay off the national
debt.
as there any truth in this?" asked a
Reporter of popular and well-inform-
ed representative of well-known city
house. The conversation took place on
the spacious and breezy veranda of the
New Brighton, where the tourist is
quartered for weeks rest.
"Well," was the, reply, ut may be a
little startling, but I expect the fellow
who made the statement knew what
he was talking about. Lemme see," he
continued in aruminative tone ofvoice,
II suppose it is fair to say that there is
hardly wholesale, jobbing or COM
mission house in any line of business in
the United States that does not have
atleast single travelling representa-
tive, and from one lone man the ira
yelling force ranges up as high as l25
Or $50 men, and there may be one or
two houses with even more. The aver
age of the most reliable estimates places
the total number ofcommercial tourists
in the country at 25O, 1000; and, mind
you, this does not mean peddlers, but
only those who sell goods at whole
sale.
"Now commercial tourists dc not
travel second class, nor do they board
second class. The railroad fares, charges
for carrying sample baggage by freight
or express, hotel bills and numerous
incidental travelling expenses OF these
men will range between 81 and Sl2
per day, but,some men will spend s25
in a single day forthese purposes with
out resorting to any extravaganza.
Take, for instance, some of the carpet,
clothing or fancy goods men who carry
ten to fifteen trunks full Of samples,
take a packer with them and hire a
| hotel parlor 10 display their goods
whenever they open their trunks. But
the number of these men is compare
lively small, and S6 day will fairly re-
present the average expenses of these
$50, 900 men. There you have 81 500, 900
per day for expenses alone. Multiply
this by a65, and you have S547,500, 900
as the amount expended in one year.
"Then there are the salaries, COM
- 'E Is ~: ess;: Fey: Fey 80 less
than $500 year. The largest numb
receive between 81 800 and $500, either
in salaries or commissions. A lesser
number are paid from $4,000 to $1,000
those receiving the latter amount being
con naratively few. But there are
travelling salesmen who are always III
demand at $4,000 to sl5, 900 u year, but
thev are few and far between. The
lower saiaried men predominant, as
might be supposed, and an average Of
81 800 per year is not far outof the way
Figuring 25O,O0O men at an average
salary Of 81, 500 per year gives total OF
$45O, ,O00, 900 according to my arithmetic
TO this add s547, 100000 for expenses
and you have s997, 800, 900 for these two
items.
"But there are other items to be
charged against the salesman'saccount
It is impossible to give any accurate
estimate of the cost OF trunks, samples
and other requisites Of the travelling
men, but the items as we figure them
in our store will give something to
Judge from. Our five men require fifteen
trunks, costing IS each, or sl20. These
men require two sects of samples year
ly-one in the spring and one in the
! fall. The cost of these two sets Of sam
pies is about $1,000 per man. Of this
$1,000 worth of goods which are re-
quired for samples every year con-
siderable portion is lost, while most Of
it is soiled and damaged by constant
handling that it has to be sold at d
heavy reduction from the actual cost
or else given away. To cover this de-
probation we make an allowance OF
s3l per cent upon the cost Of the samp'
les.
"Trunks do not need renewing every
year, but repairs and replacing lost ones
form quite an item of expense. From
these figures it is evident that the
similar expenses of greater or lesser
amount borne by every wholesale house
will swell the salary and travelling ex'
pense item of S997, 100000 far beyond
SlO00,OOO,O00 per year. Those think
are about the figures that are paid tt
travelling salesmen in this country. L
that amount will pay the nationa
debt. / don't know. The national deb
does not interest me. At present an
taking my summer vacation. Good
day; call in again.
That Generous Offer.
I al;