[Page 53.]

If increase of traffic no more than above, increase of working expenses negligible, apart from economies made by unification. Expense of carrying 200 passengers no more than 20. If increase of traffic more, then revenue increases, but working expenses only by about 50 per cent., as expenses of permanent way, stations, signal boxes, and establishment charges but little affected. Expenses of Post Office and Railways to be lumped together.

[CHAPTER VII.]
Terms of Purchase.

[Page 56.]

Present total market price of all
Railway Stock and shares about£1,350,000,000
Debentures and Loans ”350,000,000
Total about£1,700,000,000

Estimate of annual sum required according to precedent of purchase of the East Indian Railway Company, namely, by annuities for 73 years, equal to 4¼ per cent. per annum on market value, plus liability for Loans and Debentures with interest at 3 per cent.

4¼ per cent. on £1,350,000,000£57,375,000
3 ” ” 350,000,00010,800,000
Total annual sum required for purchase£68,175,000
Revenue available as per above estimates:—
Passengers£46,750,000
Goods74,800,000
Miscellaneous, as now10,000,000
£131,550,000
Less Working Expenses, with
say, increase of £4,000,000
85,000,000
Net revenue available£46,550,000
Balance required for purchase£21,625,000
would be provided by following further increase of traffic, viz.
100,000,000passengersat1s.£5,000,000
10,000,0004s.2,000,000
30,000,000tons10s.15,000,000
£22,000,000

This further traffic brings total increase of traffic to:—

350,000,000passengers= about 21 per cent.
78,000,000tons of goods= about 15 per cent.