Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-07-05
THREE CENTS PER MILE.
The Rate Paid by Railroads tor the
Use of Pullman Cars.

The relation existing between the Pull
man Palace Car Co., and the railroads is
peculiar and varies considerably. As a
generality, there are two forms of con-
tract. The first is where the railroad
purchases part interest in the cars
which are run over it's line. In that case,
the railroad company shares in the profit
of the service. The other form of con-
tract is where the Pullman company fur
| nlshes the cars to the railroad, charges
1t mileage for the use of the car and
collects and retains all the income and
profit of the service. majority of the
roads are operated under the latter sys-
tenn.
When the Pullman company delivers q
car to the railroad over which it IS to
run the railroad company becomes re-
sponsible for its safe return. The rail
road accepts it as part of its rented or
leased equipment, and pays to the Pull
man company cents per mile for each
mile each car runs over its line. The
Pullman company furnishes the conduc
tors and pnrter4, the linen and the other
equipment, and pays all the expenses of
running tho cars. 1t also collects all the
berth fare and retains it. Thus the Pull
man company has two sources of revenue
tho mileage on its cars and the berth
fare and buffet income from the pas
senger.
Formerly several roads owned their
own sleeping cars, but after operating
them for a time it was found to be too
expensive and the cars were turned over to
the Pullman company, which, by its vast
equipment and perfect system, is able to
handle the service at a minimum cost
and consequent profit.
"The rate of 3 cents Per mi! :" said a
railroad man, "which Ia not only the av-
erage, but the exact amount which the
Pullman company charges ell railroads
for the use of their cars, does not look
very large at first glance, but it counts
up very rapidly, so rapidly, indeed, that
the Pullman company does not care very
much whether their cars carry any passen-
gers or not. The average run of a car every
night is 800 miles, which brings the Pull
man company revenue of $50 if there
is not passenger in the car. Most of
| the runs, however, are twenty-four hours
instead of twelve, and this means reven-
ue OF $50 per day to the Pullman com
pany This Is calculation based upon
mileage alone.
"Thc sleepers that run out of the st.
Louis union depot will average ten pas
sengers for every car, which at So per
head, means 500 night, or $50, includ-
ing mileage and berths, or abou. 800 per
car per twenty-four hours. A Pullman
car is watched very closely and kept in
the very best of repair. Under these
favorable conditions it will run 300 days
in the year, allowing sixty-fve for re-
pairs alone and nothing for delays, for
the Pullman company receives $40 per
day when the car is delayed or side-tracked,
the car will certainly run 200 days in the
year, which would yield revenue of
100000, or about $4,000 more than the
cost of tirst-class palace car. OF course,
the cost of conductors and porters and
wear and tear is considerable, but there
is enough left to enable the Pullman
company to make millions. They do it,
and the stock is growing more valuable
every year, Denver Times.