The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-15
COST OF A RAILROAD CAR.
Interesting Details from the Shops of
the Pennsylvania Railroad.
New York Sun

The auditing department of a great
American railroad corporation rivals in
Governmental department. The earnings of
all the lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad
system in year average about $4,000, 600
ana the gross earnings or the NanderDllt
system amount to rather more-$45 OOO,0O0
from the New York Central 81 100000 from
the Lake Shore. $40 600 900 from the West
Shore and Nickel Plate, $33, 900 from the
Chicago and Northwest, $13, 900 600 from the
Michigan Central, and about $l50OO,OO0 from
collateral lines or systems. These figures
are large, but they appear still larger when
they are compared with items of Federal
revenue. The total receipts of the United
States Government from customs during
the fiscal year ending in 1896 were $3.50 ,U0O,
and from internal revenue taxes $l46 GOO, 900.
The two together made up 1896, 600 000 of
public revenue for the Government of the
affairs of a nation of 100000 inhabitants,
but the two railroad systems referred to
represented together receipts of $275, 900, 900,
and If third big railroad system" were
added the receipts of the Federal Govern
ment would be exceeded.
The accounts of big railroad corporations
require care and much hard work, and the
system of precise bookkeeping in railroad
accounts now a special branch of account
ing) has been carried close to the point of
perfection by the Pennsylvania Railroad,
which, for instance gives to the fraction of
a cent the expenses incident to the con-
struction of car or a locomotive. There
are 10000 passenger cars and 5000 baggage,
mail and express cars in actual use on the
railroads of the United States, and the or
binary passenger car costs anywhere from
1000 to $1,000 the difference representing
added improvements in furnishing
There has recently appeared a detailed
statement of the cost of constructing at the
Altoona shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad
a sample hrSt-claSs, modern, up-to-date,
luxurious passenger car, and some of the
items are of interest. The wheels and
axles represent a cost of $33235; the trucks
upon which the car rests cost $533.62; the
air brake represents $131.75; the seat fix
tureS-tWenty-tiVe in \number-cost 5000;
the three bronze lamps, $3.50; the two gas
tanks $S4 the chandeliers, $5072 and the
item of screws, which might not apear to
be an important one $51SS For the build
ing of a car like the one taken in illustra-
ton, 2,4S0 feet of poplar wood, 3434 of ash,
1,100 of white pine, 1850 of yellow pine $50
feet of hickory 400 of cherry, 700 OF Michi-
gan pine 500 of oak and 439 of maple veneer
were required. To build the car there was
required in addition 13 gallons o1 varnish,
As pounds of glue, and nearly 5000 pounds of
iron, exclusive of 800 pounds of iron cast
ings. For the furnishing of the car there
were required So yards of scarlet plush, "A
yards of green plush, 81 yards of sheeting,
and 243 pounds of hair The springs on the
car seats cost $43.17, The basket racks cost
$7.35, the sash levers $42, the bronze win
dow lifts S2440 and the gold leaf for the
establishment of the woodwork SASS. For
the window fasteners $l5.47 worth of ma
terial was required two stoves cost $77.56,
and the tin used on the roof of the car
SAL A. The labor in the construction of the
car represented a cost of 81 ,20394 bringing
up the expenditure to more than 81, 400