A Popular Exposition Of The Incorrectness Of The Tariffs Of Toll In Use On The Public Improvements Of The United States - Softcover

Charles Ellet

Softcover

ISBN 10: 046163967X ISBN 13: 9780461639674

Publisher: HardPress, 2021

Synopsis

A Popular Exposition Of The Incorrectness Of The Tariffs Of Toll In Use On The Public Improvements Of The United States by Charles Ellet. This 1839 pamphlet argues that the system of tolls charged on canals and railroads - particularly a uniform charge per mile - is unjust and inefficient because it excludes valuable commodities from markets and reduces revenue. Ellet, a civil engineer, shows how tolls should be related to a shipment's ability to bear the cost, I.e., the surplus of market value over production cost, and how charges should decline with distance to maximize trade and revenue. He explains freight and toll concepts, uses simple examples to demonstrate how a proportional toll yields greater tonnage, and advocates reducing tolls on portions of lines to invite more traffic while preserving revenue. He also stresses the engineer's professional role in designing tariffs grounded in the laws of trade and equity, warning against conjectural or arbitrary tariffs. The work lays out a theoretical framework and practical considerations for improving internal-improvement economics in the United States.

Edition details

• Publisher: HardPress
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 046163967X
• ISBN 13: 9780461639674
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 47