212 
BULLETIN 711, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Cost. — The cost of the repairs on shop equipment is taken up in the 
discussion of equipment in this section. 
The shop crew ranges from two to seven men. In one large camp 
having relatively elaborate shops, the crew was as follows: Master 
mechanic, machinist, car tinkerer, blacksmith, blacksmith assistant, 
and carpenter. 
The following list is intended to approximate the wages paid in 
the region to the members of this crew during the years 1911-1916 : 
Wages per day. 
Position. 
Average. 
High. 
Lcnv. 
§4.50 
3.50 
3.00 
3.75 
3.00 
S5.00 
5.00 
3.25 
4.00 
3.25 
S3. 50 
3.00 
2.75 
3.50 
Blacksmith assistant 
2.75 
TOTAL COST OF KAILEOAD TRANSPORTATION. 
The following gives the total cost of railroad transportation in a 
few specific cases. In each case the costs are based on a year's output. 
These cases will serve to show what the total cost consists of, how it 
varies and why, also the way the items are segregated in the most 
satisfactory cost statements. 
Case 1. — Cost of railroad transportation. 
Items. 
Cost per 
thousand 
feet. 
Operation (labor) 
Maintenance of line (labor) , 
Maintenance of locomotive and trucks (labor) 
Maintenance of trucks, repair parts, and materials 
Maintenance of locomotives, repair parts, and material 
Sand (labor) 
Supply house (labor) , 
Engineering (supplies) 
Fuel oil 
Oil, waste, and grease 
Depreciation on main line grade 
Depreciation on track supplies 
Railroad construction spurs 
Total 
SO. 275 
0.268 
.122 
.04 
.05 
.008 
.01 
.001 
.10 
.025 
.10 
.06 
.283 
1.342 
The average railroad haul from the landing to the dump was 
about 4 miles. The first 3 miles was over the main line, the rest 
over the spurs. The grade on the main line, with the exception 
of a short stretch, was favorable, averaging about 4 per cent. In 
places the favorable grade was more than 4 per cent, running as 
high as 8 per cent for a short distance at one point. There was 
about TOO feet of adverse grade on the main line, which averaged 
about 4 per cent. 
