Reviewed by Derek Acland Carleton University
Kirkman subdivided his volume into three basically separate and distinct books. In the first book, the author described the typical organizational structure for an American railroad of the mid to late 19th century. Detailed job descriptions were established for the main officers of the railroad ranging from Accounting Officer to President. The author’s personal views on the qualities or characteristics required for each position were extensively presented. Where appropriate, the author identified differences between the American and British railroad systems. Book 2 contains the accounting system and records that the author advocated for the faithful collection and audit of the railway receipts. A useful appendix reproduces seventy-seven forms to illustrate the documentation described in this book. Book 3, the shortest of the three, explains the overall accounting system of a railroad leading from journals to the financial statements, Unfortunately, illustrative financial statements were not presented.
The author was a prolific writer and this volume was followed shortly thereafter by a companion work Railway Expenditures (see Accounting Historians Journal, Spring 1981). In the Preface, Kirk-man noted that the book reflected his experience of over 23 years with the accounts of railroads. As he was born in 1842, he would seem to have commenced employment at the tender age of 14, presumably without the benefit of advanced schooling. One must marvel at the extensive vocabulary and interesting writing style utilized by Kirkman. By continually using colourfully descriptive or amusingly opinionated statements, the author maintained the reader’s interest when discussing what could be a rather dull and tedious subject.
Throughout the first book, the author’s description of the attributes required for particular railroad positions were particularly in-triguing. For example: “The office of Accountant, we observe, is never sought from choice by active or aggressive young men in our country; indeed our accountants may be said to be the least aggressive people in the world.” (p. 124) or “Like all professional men animated by a high ideal, the Engineer, we may say in passing, possesses an instinctive aversion to accounts, coupled with a chronic incapacity to understand or manipulate them. He is then happily relieved of a vexatious burden.” (p. 86)
Readers desiring a detailed exposition of the personal characteristics for particular positions in American railroads during the second half of the nineteenth century will find this volume useful and interesting reading. The accounting system for railway cash receipts, which includes a complete set of accounting forms, presents the state of the art at that time, clearly and completely. Anyone seeking detailed information on a railway accounting system of this period would find this quite a useful reference source.
