The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-10
TWO CENT MILEAGE URGED.
Travelling Men United in Demands
Upon st. Louis Railroads.

St Louis, Oct I0.-The quarterly meeting
of the southwestern excursion bureau
Thursday promises to be of great impor-
lance to the commercial travellers OF St
ton in the mileage rate In the southwest
from 21z cents to , cents per mile. F. W
Crandau chairman of the joint commit
tee on commercial travellers organization
representing some $1,000 men, who also is
chairman of the railroad committee OF the
Travellers Protective association. says
~, J,.15o,-as ,-rrr,,v,,5S-5ov7 v1-fl1
granted. because it is based on reasonable
rounds and because the best Interests
OF both the railroad and the travelling
men viii be furthered by the concession
It does not attempt to dictate to the rail-
concession shall be granted. the drum
mers only asking that the rate be conced-
ed and that the form of mileage be a
free from restrictions as possible TO in
sure its proper use.
The plea Of the commercial traveller for
a lower rate than the general public is
based upon the fact that a man who trav-
els 1900 miles a year Is entitled to a
better rate than the man who travels but
little The commercial travellers OF the
southwest feel disappointed that the in
creased prosperity of the railroad COM
panies has not resulted in reduction in
the mileage rate. Il concession in which
they are particularly interested. because
It means practically an increase Of sal
airy to them. Contrary to the generally
understood situation, the salary of the
commercial traveller is based on a per
centage of sales, less his expenses, so
that a reduction in the transportation ex-
DeDses results in his immediate benefit.
The committee is prepared to show that
the last fourteen years has been a time
Of marked prosperity with the railroad
companies: From 1885 to 1904 the gross
earnings from operation per mile OF line
operated have increased from 5000 to
So 306 making an increase of 80 per cent
in nine years. While it is true that the
operating expenses have also increased
in 1885 the expense of operation being
4oS3 per mile of road, while in 1904 it
was IS 30S making an increase of about
30 per cent IN operating expenses, it is
also true that this increase is more than
offset by the fact that the net income
which was S316 per mile of line operated
in 1885 has increased to 81. as in 1S03-or
an increase of more than 100 per cent The
total dividends also show a. steady in
crease from 1895. when they were S480 per
mile of line operated. to 1904, when they
reached the sum of $1,046-or over 100 per
cent increase
A partial explanation of this situation is
found IN the fact that while in 1897 the
an average of 81 passengers to the train.
travelling on an average of 254 miles
each there was a steady increase till
1904. when there were carried as. as, $50
passengers. who averaged 46 to the train
and 3064 miles to the journey. an in
crease of over 50 per cent in the number
/ Of passengers carried, of over Is per cent
| in the average number of passengers to
the train and Of per cent in the aver
In spite of these facts the rate which
! the commercial traveller from st. Louis
1 to the southwest pays has not only not
| been decreased, but is between st. Louis
and the Texas line one-half cent per
/ mile higher than formerly This is due to