Of course, we all planned to get foreign cars home and have ours sent to us. But when the interchange stopped, we found we had many foreign cars, which, of course, had to be changed. This subject had come up in convention and it had been voted to charge three dollars per car when axles did not need turning, and five dollars where they did. By comparison with the cost of changing, as shown in this paper, it will be seen that to our company, at least, there was no loss at these figures. The following tables will explain the work done upon the Louisville & Nashville and East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia systems. It is to be regretted that the writer has not at hand information regarding other roads, that fuller statements and comparisons might be made and the showings be of greater value. The figures of the Mobile & Ohio are added, having been compiled from the annual report of that road. MOBILE & OHIO RAILROAD. (_Compiled from Annual Report._) ________________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | Number | Cost of | Cost of | Total |Average| |Changed.| Labor. | Material | Cost. | Cost. | |________|__________|__________|__________|_______| | | | | | | Engines and tenders. | 47 |$ 8,031.42|$ 7,276.86|$15,308.28|$325.70| Pass., bag., ex. cars.| 55 | 439.37| 104.25| 542.62| 9.87| Freight cars, 1,361. }|1,4681/2 | 5,719.03| 739.57| 6,458.60| 4.40| Freight trucks, 1071/2.}| | | | | | Lever and push cars. | 143 | 1,427.55| 476.93| 1,904.48| 13.32| | | | | | | | Miles. | | | | | Track (inc. sidings). | 583.5 | 17,109.53| 7,275.14| 24,384.87| 41.79| Bridges. | 583.5 | 1,896.60| 190.00| 2,086.60| 3.58| Track tools. | 583.5 | 170.72| 1,405.74| 1,576.46| 2.70| Shop tools. | 583.5 | 419.70| 2,982.90| 3,402.60| 5.83| Temp. side tracks. | 12.09| 1,958.94| 372.37| 2,331.31| 192.83| Switching cars. | | 1,398.18| 16.50| 1,414.68| | Car hoists. | | 2,499.38| 4,419.34| 6,918.72| | |________|__________|__________|__________|_______| | | | | | | Total cost. | |$41,069.42|$25,259.60|$66,329.02| | Total average cost | | | | | | per mile. | | | | |$113.68| ______________________|________|__________|__________|__________|_______|