Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-01-27
Cost of a Railroad Car.

The auditing department Of great
American railroad corporation, says
the New York San, rivals in respect
of its records and transactions gov
ernment department. The earnings
of all the lines of the Pennsylvania
Railroad system in year average
| about $3.50, 0,O00,O 900 and the gross earn
ings of the Vanderbilt system amount
to rather rnore-S45, 100000 from the
Lake Shore, 100000 from the
West Shore and Nickle Plate, $685.
100000 from the Chicago and North
west, Sl3, 100000 from the Michigan
Central, and about $l5.000,000 from
collateral lines or systems. These fig
ures are large, but they appear still
larger when they are compared with
items of federal revenus. The total
receipts OF the United States govern
ment from customs during the fiscal
year ending in 1896 were$l50,0 100000
and from internal revenue taxes Sl46,-
100000. The two together made up
| $296OOO,OO0 Of public revenue for
! the Government of the affairs of a na-
ton of 100000 inhabitants, but
the two railroad systems referred TO
represented together receipts Of S273,-
100000, and if third big railroad
system were added the receipts Of the
federal government would be exceed
ed.
The accounts of big railroad corPo-
rations require care and much hard
work. and the system Of precise book
keeping in railroad accounts (now
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 a 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 ordinary pas
senger car costs anywhere from $4,000
to $1,000, the difference representing
added improvements in furnishing.
There has recently appeared a de-
tailed statement of the cost of con-
strueting 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 a cost of$332.35; the trucks
upon which the car rests cost 1888 62;
the air brake represents $l3L75; the
seat fxtures-twenty-fve in number,
cost 500. 80: the three bronze lamps,
$3.50; the two gas tanks, $S4; the
chandeliers, $5O72, aud the item of
screws, which might not appear to be
an important one, S5l IS For the
building of a car like the one taken IN
illustration, 2,4S0 feet Of poplar wood,
3,434 Of ash, LOO of white pine,
$3.50 Of yellow pine, $50 feet Of hick-
ory, 400 of cherry, 700 of Michigan
pine. 500 Of oak aud 439 Of maple
veneer were required. To build the
car there WAS required Is gallons Of
yarnish, 45 pounds Of glue, and near
ly 5000 pounds Of iron, exclusive Of
800 pounds of iron castings. For the
furnishing Of the car there were re-
quired 60 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 S43.-
II. The basket racks cost S7735,
the sash levers $42, the bronze win
dow lifts $244O, and the gold leaf for
the establishment Of the wood work
$l458. For the window fasteners
$l5.47 worth of material was required,
two stoves cost $7756, and the tin
used on the roof Of the car $4l44
The labor in the construction Of the
car represented cost of $l,263 g.
bringing up the expenditure to more
than "a 400.