Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-11-13
NUMBER As.

Iaxpenses at ST. 90 per ton, or 30 cents per
ton above the average, which we have ascer-
tanned is 10 cents. -
These articles are kept under cover, are
we'll protected, and carefully handled, and
Iconyeyed in covered cars Hence, they
oqsuld be charged with larger proportion
both of the hauling and handling and depot
Expenses.
The second class will embrace such arti-
cles as plaster, pig iron, coal, stone, ores,
and Undertakings not very liable to be
stolen which need nc protection and may be
roughly handled.
For such commodities. place the actual
cost of conveyance at = cents per ton per
mile, or one-fourth of a cent 6eloao the ascer-
tanned average. ,t tt@ .
For these will place the depot expenses
at only 40 cents ton or as much below as
the higher class is placed above the average.
Now, the basis of the tariff s the actual
cost of transportation; and | set out with tho
assumption thus justified, as near approx
imaton, that the actual cost of hauling and
handling freight will be, for the
FIRST Glass.
Hauling, per ton per mile, 8 cents.
Depot expenses, per ton, 81 W
SECOND CLASS.
Hauling, per ton per mile, 21l cents.
Depot expenses, per ton, 40 6
It is to be observed that the charges here
set down for depot expenses, are not merely
the expenses of handling the freight, bnt all
the ex penses due to clerks, agents, storage,
labor and machinery at the depots. 80.
1t will be observed, also, that l have made
no allowance for certain expenses which,
though included in the last years account,
ARE considered to be ola contingent or ex-
traordinary character, and mot expected to
be annually recurrent. '-..,<.
Experience teaches that, on all railroads,
each year provides it's own list of contin-
gent, accidental, and peculiar expenses,
varying in character and amount, but, in
some form or other, always requiring to be
paid-either out of the receipts from tram
sportation or out of borrowed money
These items were no larger last year than
they are likely to be in future years; and l
therefore let them stand. a :
On the other side, I have made no allow
ance for the depreciation Of the road and
chineery-consequent on the use that IS
made Of them-oyer and above the current
cost Of repairs This is always specula-
tive quantity, the value and even the reality
of which have been much disputed by rail-
road officers. | have preferred to base the
tariff on those expenses which are obvious.
which appear in the report and which must
bo ,d,o;ftad E
Now, l admit that these results are not
strictly correct. | offer them only as the
best and most reliable averages that can
make from the data at our command. /,
am sure that any error they may contain is
so small that it can lead to no material
error in the tolls which they authorize.
But let us see, before we proceed fur
Their, what amount of error may really creep
| into our tariff in consequence of given errors
| in this estimate Of the cost Of transporta-
ton. .<.. ;,,.l..
IF the estimated cost of hauling merchan-,
! disc from Richmond to Staunton has been
put half q cent per ton per mile too high.
the effect of that error on the computed
charge proper to be levied on dry goods
taken from Richmond to Staunton will be,
that the average charge of So cents is put
9-10 cents per 100 lbs. too high. .
If the cost of conveying plaster has been
estimated AoTa cent per ton per mile too
low, the effect of that error has been to re-
duce the charge on plaster conveyed from
Richmond to Gordonsville, .7S miles, 10
cents ton below what the charge ought to
BE-
Now,I presume that no one can follow
me through this process aud come to the.
conclusion that the cost of transportation
which | have deduced from last years ex
perience, is, on any important article, as
much as half cont, or even quarter of a
cent per ton per mile too high or too low.
For the convenience of reference, | will
add that the actual cost of transportation,
including depot charges and handling, per
100 lbs. weight, obtained as above, is az
| follows
| FIRST CLASS.
Richmond and Charlottesville, pei 100 lbs. 1919.
Richmond and Stauntnn, per 100 lbs. 2S 4-l0.
Richmond and Jacksons River, per 100 lbs. "a 2-lO
SECOND CLASS.
Richmond and Charlottesville per tonsof 1000 los.
50 50
Richmond and Stanton, per ton of 1000 lbs. so
Richmond and JacEsop's River, per ton of 2000 lbs
527