The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15
RAILROAD EXPENSES.
The Great Cost of Maintenance and
improvements.


The gross receipts of American railroad
companies are now nearly q 800 0O0. 600 a
year and the operating expenses are ap-
proximately $500. GOG 600 a year showing
an apparent profit Of $500 600 600 he larger
part Of which goes 10 pay interest upon the
bonded Indebtedness dividends. rents. and
other like items. leaving a balance Of about
$50 600 0G0. which though considerable, Is
insufficient TO pay the additional expenses
arising from the extension OF lines. the
construction Of branches. the improvement
OF service. additional equipment. new ter
minals modern safety appliances. and the
acquisition Of tributary lines known to
railroad men as feeders. The fact is that
one Of the most notable phases Of American
railroad business is found in the impera-
tive requirement for new expenditures
which 20 on necessarily and to an extent
greater than in any other country.
The weight Of the rails is being con-
stantIy increased. The former wooden
bridges and trestles are being replaced by
others OF steel and iron. steel chiefly. More
powerful locomotives are in use each year.
heavier cars are employed. and double
trackage replaces sidings. The question OF
ballast il one which requires not only al
tcntion but large expense as well, the
former ballast OF sard or gravel being now
replaced by broken stone or furnace Stag.
the cost Of stone ballast being nearly 81 800
a mile IN position. 4 recent Illus. lion OF
these manifold and expensive requirements
IS furnished by the recommended ion OF the
president Of one OF the great trunk lines
connecting New York With the West one
Of the oldest best equipped. most prosper
Gus and best managed freight and pas
seugpr lines OF tho country. he recon
meuded The construction Of forty-dye nCw
locomotives. a. an average cost Of $1,000;
several new steel bridges. additional main
tracks stations. and sinings; rcarrange-
mcnt OF The freight cards and he install
ing 81 an interiucains plant for tracks and
sidiues. a new ofica building for the use Of
division and terminal officials a new and
connections passenger station. the intro
duction on part OF the road OF block sig
mails. and new passenger. freight. stock,
and coal cars.
StU another item Of considerable ey-
peusc 10 American railroads is TO be found
in great cost Of track elevation through
and ont Of large cities along the line OF
the route. As the cities or towns devel-
oped by proximity 10 the railroad line in
crease ia population 10 is seen that whore
the road runs within city limits at grade
10 Is menace TO life and an injury 10
business requiring IN some cities the de-
preston OF the tracks below the street
In New York and New Jersey the lines are
elevated. and at very considerable cost,
the most extensive Of such elevations in
recent years having been in the city OF
Buffalo. These additional expenses for
track elevation or track depression add
little, IL anything to the earning power
OF the road. They do not decrease the
expenses of operation and they DO not
enhance the value OF the franchise or
right OF way. but entail a considerable
item of cost which must be met either
from current income or by the Issuance OF
new bonds or stock Indebtedness. New
safety appliances. brakes or couplers. Lew
signal systems, block or automatic. new
freight Yards. enlarged roUndhouses for
the locomotives, new passenger stations,
better cars and a larger number Of them
these are some OF the present require
ments Of american railroads.