Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-11-21

The London Morning Chronicle gives the
following comparative statement of the extent
of railway lines in Great Britain and the Uni
ted States; by which it appears that we are
ahead at present:
"There are now about 5000 miles of rail
road in operation in Great Britain and Ireland,
and Ill different lines, irrespective of branch
es. About 800 miles are in course of con-
struction, and there are 1913 railways, with a
total length of 5000 miles, authorized to be
constructed and not yet commenced. In the
United States there are now about 5000 miles
of railroad in operation. The number of the
Westminster Review states that the average
cost of railways in the United States has been
about $40, 900 4 mile, while that of the Eng
lsh roads has been 100000 per mile, inc!u-
ding the sums squandered during the mania of
1915. The annual expense Of railroad in
England, is in fact, more than the original cost
of one in the United States. The entire cost
of constructing the British rail ways was about
81, $50, ,000, 900. Above G3,0O0,0O0 passen-
gers travelled upon these railroads last year
equivalent to two trips of IL l-2 miles each TO
every man, woman, and child in the Kingdom.
These passengers in the aggregate, traversed
over million of miles, paying an average fare
of l-2 cents mile. There are on every Eng
lish road-as in fact on every railroad through
out Europe-three classes of cars, the fare of
tho first class being as mnch again as that of the
third, and half as much again as that of the
second. The second-class passengers in Eng
land are much more numerous than any other,
they numbering last year more than three times
as many as the first class and the disparity is
constantly increasing. The total receipt of all
the railroads in Great Britain and Ireland last
year amounted to S55, ,OOO, ,OOO the number of
persons permanently employed upon them was
I59, ,7s4. During the last six months of 1919,
the number of persons who suffered from acci-
dents on the railroads of the United Kingdom
was 2I9, of whom LOG died of their injuries,
which is the proportion of one fatal accident to
every 32l 900 persons travelling. This affords
a most remarkable contrast in the comparative
safety of railway and marine travelling, the in
dividuals drowned in the latter being as we have
before stated, in every 203.
The canals in Great Britain and ireland are
about 2 800 miles in length-those Of the Uni
ted States about 1000. They were construc-
ted at an expense of about $4,000, or about
one tenth the cost of the railways. Only 5S2
miles of canal have been constructed in the
United Kingdom since the year 1900. Nearly
1000, 900 of persons annually travel by stage
coach in Great Britain, Exclusive Of Ireland)
are 100, 900 miles in length, maintained at an
annual expense of $s,OOO,OOO.
The railways, canals and roads Of G. Britain
and ireland are 1870 900 miles in extent, and the
cost oftheir construction was over ST. 1890, ,OO0,-
900. Adding to this S27l 200, 900, the sum
expended on the mercantile marine, we have
gross total of t,Oenty-t,ro hundred millions Of dol
lars invested by G. Britain in the means of do
mestic and foreign communication and convey
ance What can more forcibly exhibit the tre-
mendous energy and activity of our great COM
mercial rival"