The Valuation of Public Service Corporation Property: Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers,; vol. LXXII, June, 1911, ASCE 1190 — John Shaqi
The Valuation of Public Service Corporation Property: Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers,; vol. LXXII, June, 1911, ASCE 1190Riggs, Henry Earle
General
The Valuation of Public Service Corporation Property: Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers,; vol. LXXII, June, 1911, ASCE 1190
_Cost of Reproduction._—This expression refers to the estimate of cost
of reproducing the physical properties as they exist on the date of the
appraisal, all elements entering into the cost being considered as new
and not affected by the elements of depreciation or obsolescence.
_Cost, or Original Cost._—These terms refer to the actual amount of
money paid for the property, either when it was originally constructed,
or in its condition at the time of appraisal, the latter case being the
original cost plus the cost of additions and betterments, less
abandoned, replaced, or worn-out property. This figure ought to be
represented by the "book cost," but it is not often that "book cost" and
"actual cost" are the same.
_Present Value, or Present Physical Value.[3]_—These terms are used in
describing the physical property as reproduced after it is affected by
all elements of depreciation or appreciation. The use of the word
"value" in this expression is unfortunate, as it may lead to some
confusion. It must be kept clearly in mind that, where this term is
used, it refers only to physical property as depreciated, and is in no
case intended to refer to the final or "fair value" of the property.
_Non-physical, or Intangible, Value._—These terms are used to represent
those elements, entering into the final worth of the property as a
business concern, which arise out of the operation of the property and
are not attachable to the physical property.
All the foregoing terms have to do with the determination of the
elements which enter into the final value.
What is "value"? In defining the exact meaning of this term, as applied
to the property of a public service corporation, many elements must be
taken into account. Standard authorities give many definitions of
"value," none of which appears to meet fully the requirements of the
term as used herein. Before considering the elements which enter into
the value of corporation property, or attempting to determine the
methods to be used in fixing proper figures of worth for each of these
elements, it is proper and necessary to obtain a clear definition of
"value," the thing sought to be ascertained by the inquiry.
The term, "commercial value," has been considered in place of "value,"
but is not used because it is held to be more properly applicable to the
selling or exchanging value of fractional interests in the property, and
the methods of computing the commercial value of securities which are in
common use cannot be adopted in an engineering valuation. The Standard
Dictionary definition of "commercial value" is:
"The source of commercial value, according to different schools of
economists, is (1) the degree of want felt for a commodity as shown in
the relation of supply and demand, (2) the amount of labor embodied in
it, or (3) the cost of reproduction. Practically, commercial value is
that for which a thing can be sold or exchanged at a given time and
place."
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