Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-11-17

A JocxsAL reporter vas in the baaxxes
room OF Maine Central station reesnsIy
j vhen travelling man came in ana MD /
sum OF money 70 ons Of the employees pres
sns-
A. soon ~ the drummer had gone the re-
eonef Asked the railroad man. s.vhse ~
ne paying you fors Doesn't the road carry
neegsse frees The baggage men took 4
Comfortable seat On trunk before reply
ing; II does anil Is doesn't" he began.
! :. VII carry 10 posnis Of baggage free
iof sach Passenger but ell over that /,
charged ss excess baggage and mast be
paid for
do you have much excess baggage
very large amount sni nearly of il
from travelling men- They average t.o
trunks spisee and 80 pounds excess bag
gage
Hos do the franks average, large or
srnaIl:T
"it depends upon the line the drummer
travels in Hardware. jeweiry, paper and
stationery trunks are the SMALLEST and Als,,
10 proportio by far the heaviest
hats and millinery trunks are the
largest ard hghtsst. The trunks Of
men are the heaviest outrizat.
reszhins sometimes ~ high a. 325 pounds.
other lines come 10 between these. and the
majority OF the trunks carried are about
ne same IN size and weight We haaals
al Kinds, though, and you can't mention A
ming, hardly, which Is not carried by come
drummer or another. We have men y itA
erefy thing from barisi robes and UNDER
takers supplies, 70 pipes and shoe strings.
Tie mos, awkward trunks are those which
are carried by the bicycle agents. They
are OF odd shape and hold each, two
machines
DO the travelling men in the same busi-
ness. a. raie, carry TIE same number Of
trunksf''
No, the number vxsies even in the same
noe. carpet men carry the most. from
~ to 10 ADJ one man travelling for g Bos-
ton house in this line has paid excess bag
gage on two tons Of trucks Men travel
ing with clothing carry from TO me.ium
trunks; in the toy and notion line, FROM 6
10 ordinarily and at Christmas time from
to 10: III the dry goods line, generally .
large ones and . sample case; in hardx are,
very heavy small ones; glass, crockefy
and pottery. to medium ones; apoths-
carries supplies and fancy goods, 4 to Is
hats. csps and furs, large and light ones
millinery. large and light ones pspe. and
stationery, TO 8, heavy; wall paper. .
shoe strings, .; boots and shoes, 2 and a
sample case picture frames and mouldings,
2; undertakers' supplies and burial robes,
l large trunk rubber goods. large trunk
harness, harness shop .upples and harness
hardware heavy small trunks and hesv5
large one; bicycles. ! to 8;
~hips, big sample case sporting goods 3
cigars, small trunk; tobacco leaf, large
trunk pipes, 2; je~elry, heavy ones. 10
The lines of groceries, paints, oils, pate Mt
medicines, thread, silk, printers supplies,
drugs, and 90 forth, the drummers general
ly carry one hand satchel or very small
sample case"
Are the travelling men the only ones to
paw for much excess baggage"
Oh Nc. They are merely the most
numerous class. People. especially women.
of on long vacation carry good deal and
actors and travelling theatrical companies
have considerable. ranking hext, in fact, 10
the drammers. The smaller shows carry
good deal of scenery and Stage appartus
IN the regular baggage cars, As well IS
trunks and have TO pay a good deal for
the excess. The way We figure
10 to take the total weight Of
stuff carried in the baggage car. subtract
from it the $50 pounds Of free baggage au-
thorized TO be carried free multiplied by
the plumber Of tickets held in the party. |
M,nstrels carry so many men who have,
generally, small trunks, that their scenery
usually is carried free. When a company
charters a baggage car srraDg ments are
made with headquarters direct and all we
have to do is sometimes to transfer the bag
gsge to the Kennebec Central, when the
company plays at Togus."
How do you figure excess baggage"
by so much a hundred pounds. No
fractions are recognized. Our small |
est charge for any excess TO any
point 10 Is cents and the largest we
have here is the rate to California, SIP
hundred. Once a man paid excess on
$50 pound. to San Francisco and you can
see that hi. trunks cost him $50 TO have |
them transported across the continent"
"Do you have much trouble in figuring |
and collecting the charges?'
Not. a. rule. You see we got so used
t. handling the trunks that the minute We |
pick one up we can tell whether it is too |
heavy or not. Generally the travellers take |
it all right, although sometimes awoman |
will object OF course it takes all kinds of |
people to make up world but most always
we can count on the drummers "a being |
very good fellows. who will make no trouble. |