The Beaver, Vol. 1, No. 05, February, 1921

Part 4

Chapter 43,356 wordsPublic domain

Why classification No. 17 (under consideration) proposes to allow a difference of only one class between L.C.L. and carloads of this commodity is not clear, inasmuch as for other lines of goods a difference of _two classes_ is allowed when shipped by the carload. Drygoods certainly should be entitled to take _third class_ rate in carloads.

Furthermore, both the present classification (No. 16) and proposed classification (No. 17) arbitrarily "lump" a great number of lines of merchandise in a special class without giving a special carload rate on them (see page 77, item 76, No. 16; page 97, item 60, No. 17).

One of the aims of the proposed new classification (No. 17) is to place a reasonable restriction on the indiscriminate mixing of merchandise which have a basic difference of origin. Accordingly, to get the greatest advantage from this classification for the drygoods business, those whose interests are affected will naturally insist upon a reasonable minimum weight for carloads--say 18,000 pounds. This would probably mean eliminating, of course, drygoods "not otherwise specified" and substituting certain lines of drygoods which would be entitled to mix and be eligible for _third class_ rate in carloads.

A few headings are here suggested for such specified lines:

ALL KNITTED GOODS--Wool or cotton, such as underwear (men's, women's and children's), hose and half hose (wool and cotton), sweaters, toques, heavy wool gloves. These should be allowed to mix and make up a carload.

CLOTH--and garments made from same.

VELVETEENS, VELOURS, cotton velvets and cotton comforters, should be allowed to mix with cotton piece goods.

Blankets and Boots could not mix with other lines.

Concerted effort on the part of shippers should result in these reasonable, logical and necessary changes being made in the proposed new classification (No. 17). In the case of the Company, the adoption of suggested amendments along above lines would result in marked savings on freight charges for at least three of the four larger H.B.C. stores.

It may be said that the Company in some instances could not make up carloads of its own merchandise. Granted that this is possible, there are a large number of forwarders in every city of importance and it is not difficult to have smaller packages included at carload rates.

TABLE 1

TABLE 2

TABLE 3

As at present possible on Groceries, for example, we can cite an instance of freight being saved by taking carload rate to Winnipeg and thence to Calgary or Edmonton through a forwarder. Below is a statement of a shipment which moved recently:

OLD WAY--1 barrel of Pickles, 140 pounds, Liverpool to Calgary, L.C.L. rate, at $5.81 $8.13

NEW WAY--1 barrel of Pickles, 140 pounds, Liverpool to Winnipeg, C.L. rate and Winnipeg to Calgary, C.L. rate, including forwarding charges at $3.04½ $4.68

The saving of freight on this barrel of pickles alone was $3.45.

Table No. 1 above shows class rate comparisons and will make clear the savings possible on drygoods shipments under proposed new grouping and loading.

Supposing in some cases it were not possible to make up a carload of drygoods for Calgary or Edmonton, shipments from Liverpool to Winnipeg in carloads and thence to the Alberta points by first class or less than carloads would still show an appreciable saving as indicated by Table No. 2.

Due to our inability to make up carloads from Winnipeg to Vancouver--and the combined carload rate from Montreal to Winnipeg and L.C.L. rate from Winnipeg to Vancouver being larger than the through L.C.L. rate from Montreal to Vancouver--this saving in freight cost would not be felt on Montreal or Liverpool shipments of drygoods to Vancouver. The reason for this is indicated in Table No. 3. The comparatively lower through L.C.L. rate from Montreal to Vancouver is made to meet competition with the slower but cheaper water route via the Panama Canal.

+---------------+ | WINNIPEG | +---------------+

Confirmed Winnipeg Bachelor Meets Waterloo

_The Happy Couple "Shot" Soon After The Event._

By Our Staff Photographer

THIS is the tale of a white-coated masseur who used to be perhaps something of a woman-hater, the tale of an irresistibly beautiful maiden in distress, and of the gossamer strands of a brunette coiffure which were too short--oh, far too short. It's a story you'll never forget as long as you can remember it!

The co-respondent in the case, the debonair gentleman in question, Mr. William Saalfeld, administrator of Winnipeg store's beauty parlor, though usually triumphantly successful in the treatment of the feminine's crowning glory, was baffled to the point of desperation. (Ha!--the plot fattens!)

Try as he might, he, the designer of fabulously rare head-dresses, could not induce this charming Madam's hair to stay "coiffed." Finally in great disgust, disregarding his reputation for impeccable deportment, _finesse_ and _savoir faire_, Mr. Saalfeld abandoned this bewitching minx to her fate, her tresses uncombed, un-marcelled and undone.

Of course, anyone who could not detect a "rat" in this yarn, somewhere, must have no more imagination than an oyster has shins. The fascinating damsel so endearingly referred to is a wax figure, as you might have seen upon close scrutiny of the portrait. The display department in performing some little operation, such as amputating a finger, adding a new one and powdering her face, tossed her pretty locks. Mr. Saalfeld, whose services were requisitioned (as you have just heard), gave up in desperation. How they finally re-dressed her hair is a professional secret which Mr. Macgregor refuses to divulge. And the darling maintained a serene silence, only the deep blush upon her cheek betraying how her sensibilities had been offended.

WHILE WE HAVE NO infallible information regarding recent seismographic disturbances in China, we would cheerfully volunteer the information that Mr. Kaufman sat down quite impromptu and with considerable emphasis during a curling game recently.

MEMORY:

_Applied to Efficiency_

By R. J. HUGHES

WE are told our brain is composed of thousands of small cells and that the average person in a lifetime only develops a small number. Surely we were given a brain to use and not let half or more of it lie dormant. So let us try and see how many cells we can develop; in other words, train your memory to help you more and more, every day.

Think out a better way of doing some particular duty you have to perform--a way that will save time or result in greater satisfaction to the customer or the Company. Memorize this and when the opportunity presents itself, give it a trial. This principle applies to any department you may be in, selling, delivering, packing or unpacking; it all amounts to the same in the end, we are all serving the customer in one way or another.

A salesman I know greatly improved his position in the Company's service, by memorizing the names of all the customers he served. His method was to note the personal appearance of the customer and any peculiarities such as carriage, gesture or attire, at the same time pronouncing the name clearly and making a mental effort to fix it in memory. After the departure of the customer, he occasionally repeated the name to himself. He associated the customer and the name with as many ideas as possible; for example, the particular part of the store where the customer was purchasing or the customer's attitude at the counter. The impression thus made was reinforced by subsequent repetition of the name.

Similar plans may be used to memorize many other things. The particular "salesman" referred to is now a buyer and he attributes his success in a large measure to the foregoing. Of course, we can't all be buyers, but we can all be a little more efficient and in that way pave our way to greater success.

Futuristic Fables

_Winnipeg Store News as it Will, Perhaps (?) Be Reported in the Halcyon Days of, Say, 1945 A.D._

MR. GEORGE ASHBROOK, our resident buyer in Buenos Ayres, South America, wirelesses his congratulations to _The Beaver_ upon its attainment to its twenty-fifth year of publication. He adds that the annual revolution in Peru will occur two weeks later this spring on account of the prolongation of the rainy season.

THE MARRIAGE is announced of Frank R. Rogers, the prominent young Winnipeg banker, son of our print-shop and book bindery superintendent, to the belle of the season, Miss Helen Ogston, on Tuesday next. Social circles are all agog over the event.

SHORT WEEK-END air flights from surrounding suburbs to see Winnipeg with its 1,000,000 population and its Hudson's Bay Store, are becoming quite the thing. Among those who alighted gracefully upon the store's roof-garden 'drome last week-end and dropped in to see us all, we noticed Mr. W. J. McLaughlin, of Vancouver; Mr. J. Prest, of Edmonton; Mr. F. R. Reeve, of Calgary, and Mr. Hudson, from Hudson Bay, the genial senior partner of the firm. Mr. Reeve stated that his engine had been "missing" ever since he passed over Regina. A search party had been organized to locate it. "Mac" declares it is still raining in Vancouver, but (like the cold one does not feel) Coast rain does not wet one!

DURING BONSPIEL week a very great curiosity visited the store. An old gentleman with a typical Scotch tam upon his head roamed through the aisles with the fires of recollection burning in his eyes. The snow of many Winters was upon his brow and as he moved gingerly about leaning heavily upon his cane he was evidently an interested spectator of the great progress evidenced on every hand. His manner and garb plainly bespoke that prosperity and independence which possession of plenty of this world's goods always develops. He claimed to be Mr. George Bowdler, erstwhile champion curler and a member of the store's staff twenty years ago.

The Store Jokesmith

MR. CONDUCTOR, please stop the Orchestra just a moment, while we breathlessly inquire whether Mr. _Tom Bone_, reported in January _Beaver_ as _vers librist_ and musical instrument maker of Vernon, should not spell his name _Trom Bone_? Sounds like sax-oph-one and half-a-dozen of the other to us. (Quick, Friday, the mallet!)

RUMORED, MR. AULIS, in the grocery, has lately purchased a new house. We hope he made a good deal and can sell it, if he wants to, for a $1000 or so profit, without being called a profiteer!

THERE IS A GENTLEMAN down here on the prairies who admits he has bowled 228. Mr. Samuel Beggs offers to tell who it is, if anyone is in doubt.

IF WISHES were material things we bet: _Mr. Kaufman would have a waist like Annette Kellerman._

SH-SH-SH! Strictly _entre nous_! Mr. Wood or anybody'll tell you that standing up for the principles one believes in is like learning to roller skate. You won't get anywhere if you sit down too often.

Do You Know

--that Hudson's Bay Company's city delivery rigs made 218,049 deliveries, travelled 131,162 miles, and disposed of 267,625 packages during the year 1920? The figures are given by Mr. G. Russel, the shipping room manager.

--that the Hudson's Bay Company's shipping department despatched to out-of-town points by express, freight and mail, 59,519 packages during the year 1920?

--that the dining room manageress, Miss Beggs, states that her staff served 28,238 meals during the month of December, 1920.

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Write Like the Dickens Is Right

AN Oriental paper having an English section printed the following notice:

"_The news of English we tell the latest. Writ in perfectly style and most earliest. Do a murder commit, we hear of and tell it. Do a mighty chief die, we publish it and in borders somber. Staff has each been colleged and write like the Kipling and the Dickens. We circle every town and extortionate not for advertisements._"

MISS CONSTANCE GREENFIELD was married on February 5th, at St. Luke's Church, to Mr. Norman Horton. Mrs. Horton (nee "Connie" Greenfield) has been with us for eight years and her place will really seem vacant for a long time to come. We hope the newlyweds will enjoy a regular story-book romance. They will reside at Guelph Apartments.

+--------------------------+ | _WHOLESALE-DEPOT_ | +--------------------------+

SEVERAL enjoyable skating and toboggan parties have been organized by the members of the staff who have taken full advantage of the mild Winter experienced at Winnipeg.

The Dears Have Taken Up Curling

TUESDAY night, January 18th saw the commencement of what we hope to see as a regular feature, ladies' night at the Heather Rink. Four rinks turned out under the direction of such experienced skips as D. Swan, Alex. Thompson, McMicken and Bill Phelan. The girls had some good sport, but all couldn't win. D. Swan and Bill Phelan took the honors.

_Heard next morning:_

1st Girl--"Oh my arms do ache!"

2nd Girl--"Only your arms?"

3rd Girl--"They tell me the stones weigh 40 lbs. each."

4th Girl--"400 lbs., you mean, judging by my back and arms."

Chorus--"Oh, for ma wee white bed."

The Ladies' Rinks

Miss Smith Miss Poole Miss Gow Miss Thomas Miss Hatfield Miss Davis Mr. A. Thompson, Skip Mr. D. Swan, Skip

Miss E. Smeaton Miss Rosenberg Miss Kellet Miss Norris Miss Brown Miss M. Smeaton Mr. McMicken, Skip Mr. W. Phelan, Skip

STANDING

P. W. L. Swan 3 3 0 McMicken 3 2 1 A. Thompson 3 1 2 W. Phelan 3 0 3

Wholesale packing room played retail delivery January 31st. The draws resulted in a decisive victory for the wholesale; score 24 to 8.

Retail Skips Wholesale Skips Tait Swan Mills McMicken

MRS. PETER RENNIE and son and daughter arrived recently from Seattle.

MISS ROSE PARADIS, recently one of our steno. stars, is shortly to be married, and has our best wishes.

HEARTIEST congratulations from the wholesale staff to Mr. McDonald on the birth of a son. Mrs. McDonald is doing well.

MISS C. NORRIS is the latest addition to wholesale staff, taking the place of Miss Paradis as a steno. star.

MISS MASIE STYNE left us at Christmas to take a well deserved rest with her parents on the farm at Eriksdale.

MISS LAURA SHEILDS has taken over the switch board vacated by Maisie.

WHO IS THE traveller that sold dud eggs as new laid, and what shall be done to him?

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H.B.C. CURLING ASSOCIATIONS, WINNIPEG, 1921

_Land Department_ --------------------------------------------------- | Games | | | SKIP | Played | Won | Lost | Standing ---------------+---------+-----+--------+--------- Harman | 6 | 4 | 2 | .666 Bellingham | 6 | 4 | 2 | .666 McDill | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 Joslyn | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 ---------------------------------------------------

_Retail Store_ --------------------------------------------------- Scott | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1.000 Bowdler | 6 | 4 | 2 | .666 Pearen | 6 | 4 | 2 | .666 Mills | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 Ogston | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 Parker | 6 | 3 | 3 | .500 Tait | 6 | 3 | 3 | .500 Sidey | 6 | 3 | 3 | .500 MacGregor | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 Healy | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 Sparling | 6 | 1 | 5 | .166 Pugsley | 6 | 1 | 5 | .166 --------------------------------------------------

_Wholesale--Depot_ -------------------------------------------------- A. Thompson | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1.000 Johnson | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 Swan | 7 | 4 | 3 | .571 Veysey | 6 | 3 | 3 | .500 Poitras | 6 | 3 | 3 | .500 Phelan | 6 | 3 | 3 | .500 Brock | 6 | 3 | 3 | .500 Kinsman | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 McMicken | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 O. Thompson | 6 | 1 | 5 | .166

+------------------+ | CALGARY | +------------------+

_Retail Store News_

Why Not a Hudson's Bay Bonspiel Week?

IS it possible for the stores or other departments in the Company's service to hold a Bonspiel, say in the last week of February, choosing some central point, Calgary, for instance. Curling has many fans amongst Hudson's Bay men and some crack rinks could be assembled.

Could it not be arranged under the auspices of the H.B.A.A.A. and become a yearly event? As the rinks consist of four men only, could they not be spared during the Bonspiel period?

It would undoubtedly arouse much interest and enthusiasm in the Company and is good publicity too. _Sweep hard, you curlers, and let's have some suggestions._

As a starter, Calgary issues a challenge to any rink in the Service.--_Calgary H.B.A.A.A._

A Noteworthy Event

BABY STODDART was the first arrival in Calgary in 1921. Roy Stoddart of the carpet department is the proud father of the fine son, who arrived at 7 a.m. New Year's morning, and is the recipient of many useful gifts presented by the Calgary _Herald_ and city merchants.

Random Shots

MISS PATTON, our hosiery buyer, says: "Window space, like hosiery, gets most attention when properly filled."

MR. HERRING, in men's furnishing department, says: "No wonder we can't buy a cigar for five cents--look where the price of vegetables is."

MR. McKERNAN says: "Speaking of women having more sense than men--did you ever notice that when the baby gets big enough to walk, father wants to give away the baby carriage, but mother puts it up in the garret?"

GEORGE GAULD expects to compete in the skating carnival, 1922. The new figures that George cuts while on the ice are somewhat sensational!

"STOP THE PRESS" FLASH.--Bud Fisher will wear that beautiful new tie on Easter Sunday. Bud always goes to Church "Easter Sunday."

MRS. F. WALLIS, of the audit office, left the Store last month after four years' service. On behalf of the staff with which she has been associated, Miss I. Dunlop presented her with a beautiful cut glass salad bowl.

MRS. M. MOODIE, of the office staff, is on a three months' visit to Ireland. From letters received, she seems to be having a wonderful time.

MRS. McCRACKEN (nee Miss Watson), buyer of the ladies' furs, is leaving after nearly seven years' service.

She had a recent offer of a better position, and accepted it--_she is going to devote her energies to looking after her husband and her home_.

The best wishes of the whole staff go with her. Mrs. McCracken is to be succeeded by Mrs. Thorburn from the Winnipeg store, who is assured of a hearty welcome to Calgary.

January Dance Lively Affair

WITH plenty of "JAZZ" music and real girls who knew all about dancing and its inventor, the Calgary store staff held their monthly dance on January 19th, at Hickman Hall. With all the store boosters helping it along, it could not help but be a success and those who were present will tell you it was the best dance of the season. Our Calgary Editor, Frank Reeve, was the only one of the store managers present. He promises to bring more of the buyers and other store managers with him if he has to burn up his own gasoline to get them there. Our ever-smiling dining room manageress was in no small manner responsible for the success of the dance.

Calgary Boys Are Enthusiastic Curlers

By LOU DOLE

THE Calgary stores' curling club, like everything under the direction of the athletic body of the big store, is an unbounded success. No game that one could mention is without its followers in our store and not only are they followers of the rock and broom game, the boys who have taken it up are good at it, at least they will say so and are willing to back up their assertions at any time.