The free press., 1893-06-01
BIG BUYING.
Work Of the Purchasing Agent
of a Great Railroad.
He Buys Immense Quantities
of Various Articles.

lHS sake. but IL Is no SlneCure TO
The purchasing agent, who buys from
from years end to years end, and is
always on the lookout for low prices,
which he generally finds.
The work Of the purchasing agent
IS to audit all the acquisitions made
upon him by heads of departments and
station masters, and to buy the goods
called for. Some of this work he does
in person, and some by proxy.
The principal items with which he
has to deal are iron, rope, waste,
glass, stationery and oil. He must
keep himself informed of the market
prices of these articles, and be ready
always to take advantage of glut in
the market or drop in price from
any other cause. lie buys always at a
discount from the lowest market price,
because he buys in great quantities.
The purchasing agent of such a road
as the New York Central buys about
So, 900. 900 worth of goods every year.
He has nothing to do with the rails,
lumber, or heavy machinery they are
attended to in other quarters. Every
head of department and every station
agent must make requisition on the
first of the month for the supplies that
he will need for that month. To keep
the business in good running order it
is imperative that the acquisitions be
made on the first of the month; it will
not do for the agent to write in the
middle of the month that he is short
of something.
These requisitions are sent direct to
tho puro,asing a4one aud ne auuIJs
them. If he thinks that too much of
any article has been ordered he cuts
down the order. If, on the other
hand, an order is manifestly too small,
lie increases it. This, however, sell
dom happens. After the acquisitions
have been audited they are sent to one
of the principal officers of the COM
pany for his approval AS soon as
they receive his stamp the goods are
shipped TO their destination. They are
not bought as needed. but are kept in
stock h great quantities.
A San reporter found the purchas-
ing agent of the New York Central
railroad in the midst of a heap of
requis lions.
One was for dozen red globes for
signal lanterns, 750 barrels of oil, 100
barrel' of signal oil, 90 gallons of
turpenine, 10, 900 seals and wires for
sealing freight cars, a coil of rope five
inches in circumference, l dozen
broonf, half dozen sponges, 100
pound of waste for cleaning Chin
neys, gallons of soft soap for clean
ing CHOOSES, 4 kegs of nails, 500 en-
velope, 1000 paper clasps, l gross
each q pens and pencils, and 10 yards
of flat bunting. An office in the in
terror pf the State called for 10, 900
large Envelopes, 10000 small ell
velopei 500 small pads, 5000 letter
heads. 0 gross of pens, 500 applica-
ton foms, 500 monthly report blanks,
10 gros of pencils, 10 gross of clasps,
100 larc sticks of red scaling wax,
500 heky MANILA envelopes, 5 dozen
oil cam dozen lanterns, 10 signal
lampsP dozen white globes, 3 large
lamps or station, 2 dozen brooms,
teathe busters, $50 pounds of waste,
8 kegs of nails, half-dozen large
cham2 skins, rs panes of glass lex
20, 5 oils of small rope, one-quarter
bale Z coarse wrapping paper, 250
fence tickets, and 100 feet of barbed
wire.
SOM lines the iron bought comes
out offhe foundry SO hot that it
scorclA the car floors. The discount
secure by buying iron in large quan-
titles livery slight; but in stationery,
on th9ther hand, it is very large.
Slatioiry at retail is not high at pres
ent, bl the purchasing agent gets il
at abol one-half The usual rates. In
rope, y, he gets heavy discounts.
The Iurchasing agent not only keeps
his NIP practising continual GYM
naslicfguring for low prices, but he
has ha work to keep the run of all
his stf. The single item of envel-
opes itnough TO confuse him. The !