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Zerah Colburn makes the following extraordinary statement in an article in the " Railway Times:" " The average annual deterioration of American engines is from eight to twelve per cent, upon their first cost, while five cents per mile are required for repairs, so that generally our engines destroy themselves at the rate of $10 value per day when in full use This can be easily established by proois." Engines cost from $3,500 to $8,000. Taking the average cost at $5,000, and calculating that the engine is used 300 days in the year, the wear would amount to $3,000 per year. The Erie Railroad have 142 engines, and at this estimate their annual cost must be $426,000 allowing that they are all in use.
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