Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-23
COST OF A RAILROAD CAR.
Some Interesting Details From the Penn
sylvsnia Railroad Shops.

Some Interesting Details From the Penn
sylvsnia Railroad Shops.
The auditing department of a great
American railroad corporation rivals
in respect of its records and transac-
tions a governmental department.
The earnings of all the lines of the
Pennsylvania railroad system in a
year average about $3.50, 900, 900 and
the gross earnings Of the Vanderbilt
lines amount to rather more-$45,-
100000 from the New York Central,
$21 100000 from the Lake Shore, $10,-
100000 from the West Shore and
Nickel Plate, $33, 100000 from the
Chicago and Northwest, $13,O0O,OOO
from the Michigan Central and about
SIS, 100000 from collateral lines or
systems. These figures are large, but
they appear still larger when they are
compared with items of Federal reve-
nue.. The total receipts of the United
States government from customs dur
ing the fiscal year ending in 1896 were
$3.50, ,O0O,0 and from internal reve-
nue. taxes $146,OOO,0OO. The two to-
gether made up $29S, 100000 of public
revenue for the government of the af-
fairs of a nation of 75,000,000 inhab-
itants, but the two railroad systems re-
ferred to represented together receipts
of $275, 600, 900 and if third big rail-
road system were added the receipts
of the Federal government would be
exceeded.
The accounts of big railroad corpor-
ations require care and much hard
work, and the system of precise book
keeping in railroad accounts (now a
special branch of accounting) 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 q car or a locomotive.
There are 10000 passenger cars and
8, 900 baggage, mail and express cars
in actual use on the railroads of the
United States, and the ordinary pas
senger car costs anywhere from "a 900
to $1,000, the difference representing
added improvements in furnishing.
There has recently appeared q de-
tailed statement Of the cost of con-
structing at the Altoona shops of the
Pennsylvania railroad sample, first
class, modern, up-to-date, luxurious
passenger car, and some of the items
are of interest. The wheels and axles
represent cost of sS32.25; the trucks
upon which the car rests cost $533.62;
the airbrake represents $181.75; the
seat fxtures-25 in number cost
$50.5O; the three bronze lamps, $3.50;
the two gas tanks, $S4; the chandel-
iers, $5O.72, and the item of screws,
which might not appear to be an i'm
portant one, $51.Ss. For the building
of a car like the one taken in illustra-
ton 2,4S0 feet of poplar wood, 8,4S4
of ash, LOO of white pine, 1850 OF
yellow pine, 450 feet of hickory, 400
of cherry, 700 of Michigan pine, 500
of oak, and 439 of maple veneer were
required. To build the car there was
required in addition 13 gallons of var
nish, As pounds Of glue and nearly
5000 pounds of iron, exclusive of 900
pounds of iron castings. For the fur
nishing of the car there were required
50 yards of scarlet plush, A yards Of
green plush, 81 yards Of sheeting and
24s pounds of hair. The springs on
the car seats cost $43.17. The basket
racks cost s77.35, the sash Jewelers.
s42, the bronze window lifts $24.4o 2,
and the gold leaf for the embellish-
ment of the woodwork $14.5S. For
the window fasteners $15.47 worth of
material was required, two stoves cost
s77.56, and the tin used on the roof OF
the car $41.44. The labor in the con-
struction of the car represented a cost
of 81, ,263.94, bringing up the expendi-
ture to more than 81, ,400.-New York
Sun.