ioo PROPOSED SYSTEM. 



W. Work. 



Outlays, though, which are made upon the machine itself and 

 which would have to be repeated every time such a machine was 

 constructed, are represented by W., standing for Work. 



The difference between P. and W. is that between the con- 

 struction and operating accounts in railroad book-keeping. 



(NOTE. Proditct would perhaps be a better word than Work but for the fact that its 

 initial letter is the same as that of Plant, the meaning of which is so apposite and well 

 understood that an exact equivalent for it would be hard to find.) 



Charges for fitting, assembling, painting and possibly boxing 

 this machine would thus be charged to 789, W. Now, when the 

 job is done, we may either give the cost of 789, including both 

 P. and W. ; or, deducting the cost of Plant, be prepared to state 

 with exactness for how much such machines could be duplicated 

 in future, the plant being on hand. 



There is no room for the uncertainty and looseness arising 

 from charging plant to the general shop account, nor for the wide 

 differences otherwise existing under present methods, between 

 the cost of the first and subsequent machines. The charges are 

 made to the most probable order first, but are so identified as 

 to be readily distinguished and separated afterwards if desired. 



The same principle applies in standing orders. (Chap. XI.) 

 Work permanent in its effects is indicated by P., and that merely 

 done to keep things in running order by W. This distinction is 

 easily observed until questions of repair arise ; here it is often 

 perplexing. Such questions are best settled with reference to the 

 magnitude of the work involved, putting extensive repairs under 

 P., and minor ones under W. What constitutes extensive repairs 

 must be left to some one's judgment. It is best to indicate the 

 category to which the expenditure belongs on the order authoriz- 

 ing it. 



A. Attendance. 



Charges are thus broadly separated into the P. and W. classes, 

 but for closer analysis the latter may be further sub-divided as 

 follows : 



