Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1893 — It Costs to Run Cars. [ARTICLE]

It Costs to Run Cars.

Dining cars are generally run at a loss aud are attached to trains simply as a a matter of attraction. A steward, four cooks and five waiters are attached to eaoh car. The food costs SI,OOO to $1,500 a month. It costs from $16,000 to $22,000 a year to run one of these cars, exclusive of the wear and tear on the property and incidentals. In some places, and particularly in the South, sleepers are also run at a loss. A sleeping car leaving New York for Chicago Is supplied with 120 sheets, 120 pillow slips aqd 120 towels. The washing is done in different cities, and is given out at the low rate of $1 per 100 pieces. An equipment of linen, whicl lasts a year, is purohased in amounts oi $50,000 worth at a time. One company, for 700 cars. U6es every thirty days, 2,400 dozen cakes of toilet soap, 1,200 dozen boxes of matches, 35 dozen hair brushes, 50 dozen whisks, 60 dozen combs, and a vast number of sponges and feather dusters. Porters receive Item S3O to SSO a month.