Identifier: costcapitalizati01thom (find matches)
Title: Cost, capitalization and estimated value of American railways;
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Thompson, Slason, 1849- (from old catalog)
Subjects: Railroads
Publisher: Chicago, Gunthorp-Warren printing company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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portionate increase during the periodunder consideration makes a total of $1,087,583,700 or $5,072per mile of line, to place against the increase of $4,948 per milein net capitalization shown above. 56 While these estimates are not scientifically accurate, theyare so obviously reasonable as to afford convincing proof thatin recent years there has been an actual and remarkable shrink-age in the capitalization of American railways when comparedwith the vast sums that have been invested in their extension,renewal, improvement and re-equipment. Furthermore, it shouldbe borne in mind that these estimates, as to the cost of excessof auxiliary track and equipment, have not taken into accountthe capital outlay for introducing the block signal system onover 50,000 miles, the equipping of virtually the entire servicewith automatic couplers and train brakes—not 10% of the carsbeing so equipped prior to 1889—the reduction of grades,straightening of alignment and relaying of thousands of miles
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Track Elevation in Chicago by the C hicago and Western Indiana R. R.Looking South From 49th Street. of old line with heavier rails, more ties per rail and better bal-last. Nor has the elimination of crossings of highways and railwaysat grade been a matter of insignificant expense to the railways.In Massachusetts, where the commonwealth and the local au-thorities bear 35% of the cost, the Railroad Commissioners re-port that this work since 1890 has cost the railways $16,299,664. 57 Nearly three times this sum has aheady been spent by the rail-ways of Illinois, without state or local aid, on track elevation inChicago alone; and similar work laid out will call for a total

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