Railway Expenditures; Their Extent, Object and Economy Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 edition. Excerpt: ...in the nature of a fixed charge; the quantity of fuel consumed by 'a locomotive attached to a train of thirty cars is not relatively as great as when hauling one third that number, while all the appurtenances that are necessary to the successful operation of the train are practically the same in either case; The lubricants used upon the locomotive are substantially the same, whether the number of cars hauled be ten or thirty; The lights and furniture are also the same; The conflagrations which the locomotive unavoidably causes are the same; The accidents to the train are practically the same; The same number of incautious people are killed or injured at stations and crossings; The same number of vagrant cattle are run over and crushed; The same number of switches must be turned at the meeting points of trains; The telegraphic orders that pass back and forth between the different train officials are the same; All the varied expenses connected with the use of water are practically the same, from the cost of the fuel used for pumping purposes to the amount of alkali expended in cleaning the boilers of locomotives. As we have already stated, the expenses for keeping up the organization of a company are not noticeably different, whether its business is large or small, or is productive or otherwise. All the varied expenses which the complicated laws under which it operates require must be met without much if any reference to its traffic receipts; bulletins must be exhibited as the law prescribes; tariffs must be promulgated, agreements must be made, notices of elections must be duly posted, trustees must-be remunerated, the traveling expenses of the managing officers must be met, numerous complicated and expensive exhibits and returns must be made to...