The lands of all railway companies were appraised at a cost to reproduce or re-purchase at the time of appraisal, regardless of the original cost of the property. The sales method was used for determining the market value of adjoining property. There has been a very large land movement in South Dakota in the last five years, and as most of the country is prairie, with similar soil over large areas, it was not difficult to determine the average market value of the land for farm purposes, at the date of the appraisal, and the gradual trend of values for five years previous to that date. An average multiple of 250% was used to arrive at the cost of reproducing or purchasing the right of way. This multiple was based on investigations made of recent right-of-way purchases, and inasmuch as there are no large terminals in South Dakota, the same average multiple was used throughout the State for both town and farm property, investigation showing that town property could be secured for slightly less and farm property for slightly more than the average multiple used. In each supplemental appraisal the land values will be corrected to correspond to the changes in surrounding values, as the railway company is entitled to any increase, due to natural causes, based on the cost to reproduce at the time of appraisal. This is a well-established theory, as shown by Mr. Riggs. No allowance was made for the item commonly known as "adaptation and solidification," except in the item of contingencies and in the consideration of the present value of the ballast. In some recent appraisals, large sums, based on a percentage of the cost of grading, have been allowed for this item. While there is no question that large sums of money are expended in maintaining a safe track on a new bank, and that this expense gradually diminishes as the roadbed becomes solid, due to the pounding of the trains and the action of the elements, this expense is, and properly so, charged to maintenance, and is paid for out of the operating revenues. Now, in the trial of a rate case, exhibits showing the operating expenses, including maintenance charges, are introduced, and to include this same item in the appraisal of the physical property leads to a duplication, for if the passenger or shipper pays for this maintenance charge, it should not be counted as an item of physical value as a basis for determining what is a reasonable rate.