The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-01-16
|PFNDING MILLIONS
| On RAILROAD CENSUS
INV OF GOVERNMENT INVES-
r,cAToRs MAY SPEND TEN
YEARS WORKING ON COLoS-
al JoB-COST $2O,OOO,OOO.

Uncle Sam is now engaged IN one
tho greatest inventories ever taken
be history of the world. 1t is
Kline less than a complete physical
lhstion of every foot of railroad
The United States-every tie and
,r bolt, and it involves everything
N I'M complete history of railroad
sveoument in this country to the
Nine of a coal bucket in the din
st little red caboose. The colossal
Il is expected to require about ten
sars for completion and will prob
\ " cost from SIS, 100000 to $780,
10000.
y According to C. A. Prouty, of the
terstate commerce commission, who
charge of the work, the inventory
to determine just what each car
r is worth, taking into considera-
IN what it cost to produce the prop
" and to build up the service, what
would cost to reproduce it today,
d what it would sell for with its
HANGED or deprecated value, its
Buired privileges and its patron
~. When the task is completed,
re will be in the Office of the COM
bsion at Washington an accurate
and description of the property
every railroad engaged in inter
e business.
y Mean Government Ownership,
As to the benefits which are ex-
ted to result from this titanic I'M
taking many experts have assert
that it will result in government
nerShip of railroads and that this
IS ultimate purpose. Zone object
the valuation" said Mr.. Prouty,
to determine the amount upon
ch the public should be required
pay return to the owners of the
Il ways; that is, to learn what rates
common carriers should be al
led to charge for their services to
public, after allowing a fair re-
n upon the fair value of the in
tment." Already the investiga-
have disclosed large amounts of
altered" stock-values which exist
on paper. Thus the inventory is
ROlng the government to get ac-
ate knowledge about the railroads,
the railroads to know the true
Is about themselves.
or convenience in valuing the
pertes of all the railways in tho
1try the United States has been
ued INTO five districts. The head
f'ers of the five districts are
Snhgton, Chicago, Chattanooga,
SaS City and San Francisco.
4 Of the five districts is laid out
'he idea of working the field
vs. IN the North in summer and in
ooutn IN winter, so that the work
HTI De hampered by the weather.
Washington district, for in
~ reaches from Maine to North
una The Chattanooga district
9JeS Indiana, Georgia, Ohio and
ua, The Chicago district in
" yhe states Immediately north
VI that city and has Arkansas
louisiana tackled on for winter
An Army of Workers.
U0 Ut 100 surveying parties, COW
! vle Whole country, have been
lnIo the field. There are about
NJ 'ug : IN IN each party, making a to-
pcb i'EOU or Whereabouts in this
r. W" q Of the work alone. In adj
,i, tiere IS small army of clerks
, na.s!lcal experts. Four or five
e r"..les compose a corps, and
~ ,o = Is in charge of one man,
bat GuIy IS to lay out the work
eso; ~ VIII be done with the great
e woI.y and no time nor mon
NJ TASTED A specialist is at the
'"ch DIVISION of the working
Hs | " crews usually travel in
Beo 'aTS' Each car contains a
be- ulnlng room, berths and
kDd , aS shower baths, lavato-