The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-09-20
TRAVELLING statesmen.
Their Annual Expenses Equal to the M
tionas I1ebt.

The money useo in single year to
foot the salary and expense bills of the
travelling statesmen of the United States
would pay off the entire National debt
and leave few dollars over.
This rather startling statement was
made by junior member of one of tho
large dry goods houses of this city.
who has force of about fifty travellers,
under his immediate charge. AS proof
of his assertion he presented these par
ticulars: There is hardly Wholesale,
jobbing or commission house in any
line of business in the United States
that does not have at least a single
travelling representative, and from one
lone man the travelling force ranges up
as high as 125 or $50 men, and there
may be one or two houses with even
more. The average of the most relia-
bic estimates places the total number
of commercial tourists in this country
at 100000; and, mind you, this does
not mean peddlers, but only those who
sell goods at wholesale.
'sThe railroad fares, charges for
carrying sample baggage by freight or
express, hotel bills, and numerous in
cidental travelling expenses of these
men will range between 81 and $l2 per
day, but some men will spend $25 in .
single day for these purposes without
resorting to any extravaganza. Take,
for instance, some of the carpet. cloth
ing or fancy goods men who carry ten
to fifteen trunks full of samples, take
packer with them. and hire hotel
porter to display their goods whenever
they open their trunks. But the num-
Der of these men is comparatively
small, and SIS day will fairly repre-
sent the average expenses of the ESQ.,
600 men. There you have $1,000, 900
per day for expenses, alone. Multiply
this by 365, and you have $547 500, 900
as the amount expended in one year.
The item of salaries is nearly as
large. Few men are paid less than
5000 per year. The largest number re-
ceive between $1,000 and $1,000,
either in salaries or commissions. A
lesser number are paid from $4,000 to
S., 00O-those receiving the latter
amount being comparatively few But
there are travelling statesmen who are
always in demand at $40, 900 to $15. 900
year, but they are sew and far be-
tween. The lower Salaried men pre-
dominate, as might be supposed, and
an average of $1,000 per year is not
far out of the way. Figuring 100000
men at an average salary of $1,000 per
year gives a total of $500, 600, 600 ac-
cOrding to my arithmetic. To this add
$547, 500, 600 for expenses and you have
1897, 500, 600 for these two items.
But there are other items to be
charged against the salesmen's account
1t is impossible to give any accurate es-
mate of the cost of trunks, samples, and
other requisites of the travelling mon,
but the items as we figure them in our
store will give something to judge from.
Our fifty men require $50 trunks, cost
ing So each, or 200. These men re-
quire two sets of samples yearly-one
in the spring and one in the fall. The
cost of these two sets of samples Is
about 81, 600 per man. Of this $50, 600
worth of goods which are required for
samples every year considerable por-
ton is lost. while most Off is so soiled
and damaged by constant handling that
it has to be sold at heavy reduction
from the actual cost or else given away.
To cover this depreciation we make an
allowance of 335 per cent. upon the cost
of samples, or about ST., 900 per year.
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 1897, 100000 far beyond
81. 900, 600, 900 per year, Philadelphia
Record.
HE that does not know those things
which are of use and necessity for him
to know, is but an ignorant man, what
ever he may know beside. -Tillotson.
The man is rich who doesn't want
more than he has means to get Some
one has said that riches consist in the
abundance of things man does not
want. and there is great big pile of
solid chunks OF wisdom in the saying.
True humanity consists not in a
squeamish ear; it consists not in start
ing or shrinking at tales of misery, but
in disposition of heart to relieve it.
True humanity appertains rather to the
mind than to the nerves, and prompts
men to use real and active endeayors
TO execute the actions that it suggests.
Fox.
The old proverb that misery loves
company Is a true one. and we prove it
so for ourselves A pain in the body is
associated with one in the soul, but we
also find ourselves beset with all kinds
OF imaginary ills when compelled to
bear real ones. Worries have their
afflnltles just as kindred spirits have,
and they seek each other in all direc-
tons. United Presbyterian.
Sympathy is one of our finest de-
velOpments OF human character. Who
has not known and felt it's sweet infiu-
ences? In dark hours of grief, when
tho poor heart bleeds-and whose has
not some time? How tenderly soothing
are the kind tones or tears or acts
which ind cate sympathy with our sor-
row! Human nature rarely approx
mates SO nearly the divine as when it