The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-14
COST OF A RAILROAD CAR.
Some Interesting Details From the
shops of the Pennsylvania RniI-
road,
From the New York Sun.


From the New York Sun.
The auditing department of a great
American railroad corporation rivals in
respect of its records and transactions a
governmental department The earnings
Of all the lines of the Pennsylvania rail-
road system in year average about $780,
100000 and the gross earnings of the VAN
derbtt system amount to rather more
S4o.OOOO00 from the New York Central,
$2l,OOO00 from the Lake Shore, $4,000 900
from the West Shore and Nickel Plata,
S3OOO,OOO from the Chicago and Northwest,
$lS,000000 from the Michigan Central, and
about $l50OO,000 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 fis-
cal year ending in 1896 were $3.50, 600 600, and
from internal revenue taxes $l4j000 900.
The two together made up 1926, 600 Of
public revenue for the government of the
affairs os-a nation of Is 100000 inhabitants,
but the two railroad systems referred to
represented together receipts of $275, goo 900,
and II a third big railroad system were
added the receipts of the federal govern
ment would be exceeded.
The accounts of big railroad corpora
lions require care and much hard work
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 construction of car or locomo-
tive. There are 10000 passenger cars and
5000 baggage, mail and express cars in
actual use on the railroads of the United
States, and the ordinary passenger car
costs anywhere from $1,000 to 5000. the
difference representing added improve
ments in furnishing
There has recently appeared a detailed
statement of the cost of construction at
the Altoona shops of the Pennsylvania
railroad a 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 1929 the
trucks upon which the car rests cost $3.50. SO ;
the air brake represents Sl31 IS; the seat
tiXtures-twenty-fiV in number-cost
5000; the three bronze lamps, $780, the
two gas tanks, S84; the chandeliers, S5072.
and the item OF screws which might not
appear to be an important one, S5l.S8. For
the building of a car like the one taken in
Illustration, 2,4S0 feet of poplar wood, 3, i3f
OF ash, LOO Of white pine, 1850 of yellow
pine $50 feet of hickory 400 of cherry, 200
OF Michigan pine, 500 OF oak, and 439 Of ma
pie veneer We're required. To build the
car there was required in addition IL gal
Ions of varnish. as pounds of glue, and
nearly 5000 pounds Of iron, exclusive Of
800 pounds Of iron castings. For the fur
nishing Of the car there were required 60
yards OF scarlet plush, "A yards OF green
plush 81 yards OF sheeting, and 2l3 pounds
of hair. The springs on the car seats cost
I37 The basket racks cost ST. 85, the
sash levers $i2, the bronze windows lifts
$2440 and the gold leaf for the embellish-
- - 49,.
fasteners $15.47 worth of material. was re-
quired. two stoves cost sT7.56, and the tin
used on the roof Of the car $41.4i. The la
Dor I'm the construction OF the car represen-
ted cost Of 81 1884. bringing up the ex-
penditure to more than 400