Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-05-26
TROUBLES OF THE
PASSENGER AGENT
OFFICIAL WHO HAS TO MAKE
GOOD IN THESE DAYS OF
COMPETITION.
DISAGREEABLE FUNCTIONARY A
RELIC OF OLD TIME RAIL
ROADlNG.

Lots OF intelligent people have an
idea that all that travelling passen-
! ger agent has to do is to drop into
, headquarters, look pleasant and offer
somebody cigar" said r. P. A.,
yesterday.
"But they are mistaken" he con-
tinued. 1.-THE travelling passenger
agent has to make good in these
strenuous days OF competition Or ne
has to step out of the parade Some
times he works day and night to Sc
cure a bit of business while a dozen
other men representing other roads
are trying to get it away from him.
"A few weeks ago l thought l had
nice bunch of tourists on the list,
but counted them before had them
really landed. A rival got beat on
me and the bunch went over his road
had my revenge, however, for q
week later l ticketed 80 travellers
over our line which the other fellow
believed he had landed.
while there is, of course, some
difference in tine rates of one road,
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 counts the
most
'Tne 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 surliness Of the
railroad employe was once a sort OF
byword and he was so characterized
on the stage. This characterization
is no longer worth while-the disa-
greeable employee has been supplanted
by a class who must be civil and ac-
commodating 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 a patron complain that he Is not
getting decent treatment from any
employee 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 highly
trained pugilist. If he has to stay
out all night to get business he must
do So Above all he must have per-
sonality.
"The railroad passenger and freight
agents are the drummers of the great
common carriers of the country The
more friends they can make and hold
the more prosperous tine lines they
represent will be- There are all
kinds of ways of getting new bust
ness and one Of them, the most i'm
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
people, who are known to have the
means and 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
mas lots of friends gets many val
liable tip which leads to good bust
ness for his road and incidentally
gives him a boost in the eyes of
those at the head of the department
The travelling passenger agents are
usually genial class of men who
have good stories galore and tell
them well. He is the friend of ev-
erybody and, At heart, is a. really
fine, companidnable, sincere, human
fellow.