The New York herald., 1872-11-06

IT win be seen by the above that in 1856, when
the number OF locomotives and the amount OF roll
ing STOCK was not more than sixty per cent OF what
II was in 1871, the expense OF fuel cost and labor
ofpreparng for use cost $609, 100 6S more than it
did the latter year, which was altogether owing to
the high price OF coal, &c. Again, the item OF oil
and waste for engines and tenders alone in 1866
was $37240 "a more than during lS7l-cause, en-
hanced price of material.
But that costs more to operate railroads In 1872
than during the past six years Is an ncontroverti-
BILE fact, yet to-day coal Ii cheaper by 81 IS per ton
than it was in 1885, and enters into the expense
account OF . railroad company to a frghtiu extent
on the other hand. iron OF every grade has risen
beyond all reason Iron rails which last year cost
$57 per ton in gold, now bring $75. Spikes at
present present sell for ~ cents per pound which In 1871
from So cents to cents per pound. Steel rails,
gold, now bring sir 50 si2o, gold The duty Of,
iron rail is 20 cents per 100 pounds, and steel
rail IA cents per pound, less ten per cent. The ad
vance in rails OF all sorts is due TO the enhanced
mportations in that line are daily on the Increase
The price ofl0cOmotives has also gone up about
twenty-five per cent. An engine, costing in 1871
$ll,6OO cannot be built al present for less than
$4,000 $14,500.
American rails have kept pace with the trans
atlantic advance, rising from sos to $92 per ton
at the mills and, as matter of course, II trans
ported TO the Far West the price increases. In the
matter Of timber for beams and crossties there
has been no perceptible advance. The ruling rates
Tor such remain almost intact.
While material for construction has advanced so
greatly, the various companies are using the ut
most economy. Old rails are used In place OF new
and patching resorted to, where in ordinary times
new rails would be laid down. Thus, by the
economy, the corporations are enabled to tone
down their expenses to the lowest rate.
The average prices OF COAL as placed on the mar
Iet by the monthly sales, and which greatly innu-
the ruling rates. for the past five years were
as follows:-ls6S $4 rs per tom 1862 $5 25 per ton
(Which high price was caused by a three-months'
strike during the Spring OF that year. ; 1870,
s4 70 per ton 1871, $4 80 per ton, and up
to September 80 the average price ruled at
SO so per ton. These prices are termed "tde
water rates." and are hardly rulable in connec
tion with those paid by railroad companies. II is
an imp0ssblity to mine coal and bring the same
to Elizabethport and Perth Amboy for So 60 Some
one certainly loses by the operation. But the rail-
road corporations as q general rule the
mines which supply their iue hence this article
seldom, II ever, varies in price TO them. All the
railroad authorities are unanimous In blaming the
IN labor as the chief source OF increased ex-
penditures while the receipts for fare and freight
have remained intact and are likely to stay so for
some time to come.
We have been favored with an official statement
OF the report OF steel and iron rails and pig iron
from England, to all countries, for period OF
eight months each during three years; also the ex-
ports for one month, from which can be seen that
the United States imports about sixty lone per
OF all rails manufactured
The following is the report alluded to-