Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-01
TROUBLES OF THE
PASSENGER AGENT
OFFICIAL WHO HAS TO MAKE
GOOD IN THESE DAYS os
COMPETITION.
pIsAeREEAsLE FuNcTIoHARY A
RELIC OF OLD TIME RAIL
RoApING.

/ Lots 81 intelligent people have an
idea that all that travelling passen-
ger agent has 10 DO is 10 drop into
headquarters, look pleasant and offer
somebody cigar" said a T. p. A..
I yesterday.
But they are mistaken" ne con.
tinued The travelling passenger
agent has to make good in these
strenuous days OF competition 81 ne
has TO step out of the parade. Some
times he works day and night 70 Sc
lcaie a bit of business While a dozen
other men representing othe" roads
are trying TO get it away from him
A few weeks ago ! thought had
nice bunch OF tourists on the list.
but counted them before lad them
really landed A rival got beat on
me and the bunch went over ais road
| had my revenge. however for
week later ticketed so travellers
over our line which the other fellow
believed he had landed.
While there is, of course. some
NsiAtAthNN "a t4t laws "a uhC stoduf
the difference is really not OF much
consequence 1t is the accommoda.
tons extended for the money and the
personal attention given to the com.
fort OF patrons which commits the
most
Tine greatest asset of the travel.
! ing passenger agent nowadays is po-
likeness and the spirit OF friendliness.
These are the biggest traffic getters
in the world The surlness Of the
railroad employee was once sort of
byword and he was so characterized
on the stage This Characterization
is no longer worth while-the disa-
greeabe employee has been supplanted
by class who must be civil and ac-
eommodating or they can't hold their
jobs Railroads have learned, like
the commercial world. that politeness
or at least civility pays and pays big
Let patron complain that he is not
getting decent treatment from any
employe and the latter Is called on
the carpet.
But about the travelling passenger
agent He must be a fellow with
the hide OF an elephant. the patience
Of job and the endurance OF hie1iy
trained pueilist. II he has TO stay
out an night to get business he must
do 50. Above all he must have per-
sonality
The railroad passenger and freight
agents are the drnmmers OF the great
common carriers OF the country. The
more friends they can make and hold
the more prosperous the lines they
represent will be. There are all
kinds of ways Of getting new BUSH
ness and one Of them, the most inn
portant. is constantly increasing
clientage"
Speaking OF one Of the ways OF
securing new business he said that
at headquarters the general passen-
ger agent keeps close touch on
prospective passenger movements and
lpeople who are known to have the
means aud the inclination to travel
In every community Of any size the
boss can lay his finger on the ex.
act situation
A travelling passenger agent who
laas lots of friends gets many val.
liable tip which lead TO good busi
ness for his road and incidentally
Ic'Y him boost in the eyes OF
iase at the head Of the department.
lAfHe travelling passenger agents are
usually genial class Of men VINO
have good stories galore and ten
them well He is the friend Of ev-
lerybody and. at heart. is really
fine, colnpanIonable. sincere, human
fellow.