United Railway receives the property "subject to the conditions on the back hereof," which are in the form usually adopted by common carriers.

When express is received at the depot, it is checked in on this shipping bill, or that part of the form marked "Duplicate." If the shipment agrees with the shipping bill, the original is receipted by the checker signing agent's name with the checker's initials. This receipt is retained by the shipper, and the duplicate is kept by the

Form 184

Received from

EXPRESS ORDER

Detroit United Railway.

190

2523

By DETROIT UNITED RAILWAY, the property described below, in apparent good order, except as noted (contents and condition of contents of packages unknown), marked, consigned and destined as indicated below, which said Company agrees to carry to the said destination, if on its road, otherwise to deliver to another carrier on the route to said destination.

The DETROIT UNITED RAILWAY, will receive and carry the property marked, consigned and destined as indicated below to the said destination, if on its road, otherwise will deliver to another carrier on the route to said destination.

Marks, Consignees and Destination

DESCRIPTION OF ARTICLES

WEIGHT Subject to Correction

Consignor.

SHIPPING RECEIPT.

company and the shipment rechecked into car, thus giving the company a double check on each shipment. Any exceptions as to shipment being in bad order, etc., are noted on these shipping bills, thus enabling the company in case of claim to know the exact condition the goods were in when received and forwarded.

After goods have been received and loaded into express cars, they are then billed out on a way-bill, this form being printed in three sizesquarter sheet, half sheet and full sheet-the latter being 122x16 inches. The way-bill is the same as express and railroad way-bills, forwarding point, destination, date of shipment and way-bill number showing in proper places. The way-bill numbers are arrived at by commencing with number one the first of each month, and numbering them consecutively until the end of the month. This way-bill number is used as reference in all correspondence relating to any particular matter coming up in regard to any shipment covered by this particular waybill. The facts shown on the way-bill are designated by the headings of the various columns, which includes consignor, consignee, number of packages, description, weight, rate, charges, advances, amount prepaid and total to collect.

The rate is taken from the company's regular express tariff, which is governed by the rules of the official classification.

The rate on the different commodities handled are according to the value, dimensions and weight of each article. For example, shipments of glassware, furniture or any articles liable to damage from breakage are given a much higher rating than articles that are packed in such a manner as to occupy less space in the express car and which will weigh more than the articles first mentioned.

After this way-bill is complete, it is then copied in a tissue book, one extra tissue being taken. These extra copies are forwarded to the auditor daily, who checks the weights, rates and extensions, and files the tissue copy for future reference.

On arrival of the shipment at its destination the receiving agent checks the various shipments billed to his station from the original way-bill, noting exceptions, if there be any, as to condition of express when received from car. In case of there being any articles damaged, over or short, the receiving agent makes report of the fact on a special form, filling in the information called for in the various blank spaces. This form is made out in duplicate, the original being sent to the forwarding agent for his report, on that portion of this form designated "Forwarding agent answer following questions." This enables the forwarding agent to advise the receiving agent to correct, in case of error in billing, and what course to pursue in case of overs and shorts. This form is 9x84 inches and is shown reduced in Fig. 1. The duplicate of this form is sent to the general express and passenger agents' office, where it is recorded in what is known as "The

Over, Short and Damaged Register." These records remain open unti the matter has been finally settled, thereby making it impossible for either the forwarding or receiving agent to allow the matter to drag along without receiving the prompt attention due such matters.

The way-bill is then entered by receiving agent in his "Express Received" book. The pages of this book are 162x22 inches, and the column headings are shown in Fig. 2.

The keeping of this book correctly is the key to what is known as a Station Balance, as the various amounts shown under the headings of "Weight," "Pre-Paid." "Express." "Advance Charges," "Total of Way-Bill," etc., must agree with the corresponding columns of the "Abstract of Way-Bills Received." This form is, as its name designates, an abstract or summary of the totals of all way-bills received, and is made up for periods ending 7th, 14th, 21st and last of each month, and a like abstract of "Way-Bills Forwarded" is made up on a similar form.

The abstracts of way-bills forwarded is compiled from the tissue book copies and shows Date, Way-Bill No., Weight, Freight, Advance, Prepaid.

After the particulars have been entered in the Express Received book an "Expense Bill," shown reduced in Fig. 3 (original size 9x5 inches), is made out, a carbon copy being taken. When the shipment is delivered, the consignee's receipt is taken on the duplicate and the agent receipts for charges on the original. Collections are made on delivery unless the consignee has a regularly authorized ledger account.

When money has been collected by the receiving agent, he makes an entry of it in his cash book. Agents make daily remittances of money collected, holding in the cash drawer only a small amount for change.

At designated times a balance sheet, form No. 166, is made out by the agent; the particulars of the debits and credits are shown opposite the various numbers on this sheet, and are arrived at from the totals of the different forms and books already described.

Form No. 166 is a double sheet 132x84 inches when folded once. The balance sheet is on the first page. The second and third pages show statements of express on hand, forwarded and received, arranged under the heads in Figs. 4 and 5. On the fourth page is a statement of the remittances for the month.

This system for the express service on electric lines radiating from Detroit was adopted with a view to handling express and all accounts relating thereto in as simple, practical and systematic manner as possible.

Baggage is no longer carried in and out of Detroit on regular passenger cars, but follows on the next express car at a uniform rate of 25 cents per piece not exceeding one hundred and fifty pounds.

Where the actual weight exceeds the latter-mentioned minimum, the first-class rate named in the express tariff is applied from and to the point to which baggage is going at actual weight. This arrangement was necessary on account of the additional expense involved in the handling of baggage and the low passenger rates in effect which would not allow of a free checking system.

It is still an open question whether compartment cars could not handle both baggage and passengers during certain light hours of the day, thus giving baggage early preference and more suitable care.

Under our present arrangement of checking baggage, a passenger can have his baggage checked from any point on our system at which

ORIGINAL FAID EXPENSS DILLS SHOULD ACCOMPANY ALL CLAIMS FOR OVERCHARGE, LOSS OR DAMAGE

FIG. 3.

we have agents, which arrangement, if the passenger is coming to Detroit, includes delivery to all hotels, steamboat landings, railroad depots and residences, is working out admirably in connection with the Detroit Omnibus Line Co. It might be added that this company (D. O. L. Co.) has representatives to meet all trains and boats, so that the passenger coming to Detroit can by turning over his checks to one of these representatives be relieved of all responsibility in connection with his baggage in case he desires to avail himself of the frequent electric service.

There is a future in the parcel feature of the business, if properly conducted, which problem we have not yet been able to solve to our satisfaction, owing in a measure to the peculiar conditions existing at this point. Under our present arrangement we are accepting parcels weighing from one to fifty pounds for a minimum charge of 15 cents. going to points within a radius of forty miles, and a charge of 25 cents