The Northern galaxy, and Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-31


1t is estimated that the length of rail
roads in the United States exceeds that Of
all other countries.
There are more than 500 Locomotive
engines in use in the United States-all
of American manufacture and SO supe-
rior is that manufacture that moro than so
have been purchased in Europe.
Such is American enterprise and skill.
Cost OF RAIL ROAD Cox
sTRUcTIoN.
Great Improvements havo been made in
the economy of construction. At first the
idea prevailed that rail roads must be con-
structed nearly upon a level. Thirty
feet TO the mile was considered as the
maximum elevation, without stationary
power. Experience has since shown that
80 feet, and even somewhat more, can be
easily overcome. The difference of en-
pense in a country where there are con-
siderable elevations is obvious. Various
, improvements in the mode Of construction
have also contributed TO the diminution
of cost.
The difference in the cost of tie rail roads
which have been constructed in Great Brit
ain and in the United States is very striking.
In Great Britain the whole length of Rail
Roads, as stated six months ago, was 1,456
miles, Cost, S261 900, 600 equal to $780,
900 per mile.
The following Is a'statement Of the cost Of
several rail roads in the United States.
Albany and Schenectady, Is. 1-2 miles, cost
per mile SIO,96o
Western, l56 4o,3Oo
Worcester double track) q As 6l,209
Lowell do 70 I6,Ooo
Proyidence-single track ~ 45,057
Eastern in Mass and N. II. So 50,555
The estimated cost Of the Fitchburgh rail
road is. per mile, little less than 100000
and it is believed that the cost of its exten-
sion to Burlington through Mount Holley
will not exceed that rate. The statement |
am about to make Of the dividends on the
stock of several rail roads in the United
States whose cost has very greatly exceeded
the estimated cost of the extension OF the
Fitchburgh road, taken in connexion with the
amount of business which will probably be
done on the road thus extended, will give
some idea of the probable value Of the stock.
The dividends on the stock of the Albany
and Schenectady rail road was in 1910, per
cent. on an outlay of about 81 600 per mile.
More recently the dividends on the rail roads
from Albany to Buffalo have been from 2
to IL per cent.
In is42 the following dividends were made.
Worcester rail
road-outlay SCI 900 per mile, s - per ct.
Lowell d" $4,000 a. 7I2
Providence $4,000 61-2
Eastern S50,500 a CLIO
Western S4s.5O0
The small dividend on the stock of the
Eastern rail road is presumed to be owing to
the competition between that road and the
steam boat lines from Boston, eastward
The per cent dividend on the western,
was for the first year. The probable increase
in subsequent years may be conjectured from
the following comparison of the receipts on
that road for the two weeks ending Decem-
Der 9th 1913 with the receipts Of the cores
ponding two weeks in 1912. ~
Receipts, two weeks, 1913 S24,lOo
1912 15,60
Increase nearly 81 per cent. So,43l
A similar result appears in the Central rail
road, Georgia: thus
Receipts, months ending Nov. ~, Io43
S11O,460
corresponding months, le42, 81, 693
Increase little over 60 per cent. s42,767
AsmalIer increase appears in the Central
rail road, Michigan: thus ie...-
Receipts, for Nov. 1913 s19.33
1912 1862
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