Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-09-02
Railroads in the United States-..Inseresr.
ing Starfaffcs

Railroads in the United StaGes-ssInferest-
ing Statistics
The Capitalists GUIDE and Rai1pqv Annual BIZ
F. H. STow, contains some interesting statistics
concerning railroads in the United States, from
which the following is condensed:
Il appears that in nine years, or from 1850 to
1889, the railways Of the URited States increased
from seven thousand three hundred and ffty-6Ee to
tEenly-ssven thousand niue hundred and forty four
miles in length In this period the increase in the
New Eagland States amounted TO 62 "A per ceat,
while in eight Of the Western States the increase
was l,2014l per cent. At the same time the former
gained in population 1912 per cent, and the latter
1922 The total cost Of the roads, up to 1859,
amounted to three hundred and sixty-fve millions
four hundred and ffty-one thousand and seventy
dollars OF which large it is supposed one-thra
has been wasied iD construction; yet, BY their in
hueDce, lands have been advanced in value and the
speed Of internal communication greatly augment
ed, and the whole country benefited. There are at
this time twenty eight thousand miles Of finished
roads in the United States aad about sixteen thous
and miles either under construction or projected
requiring four hundred millions Of dollars for their
completion Il is estimated, hOEeVer, that many
years must elapse before sufficient capital can be
diverted from other objects to carry them through
In the meantime, many projected II spirit Of rival
ry to other reads will 5e abandoned Il is csleust-
ed thst twenty thousand miles of railway are suf-
cie3t to do all the business of the country the
present time, and that eight thousand miles have
been constructed in part rivalry 20 other roads.
which has proved dead loss TO stockholders, and
the meia will pass into the hands Of bondholders
The average eoss of rail ways per mile has beer
thirty-sx thousand three hundred and tWenty-eighi
dollars. In the middls States, forty nine thousand
nine hundred and nineteen dollsrs in the southern
States. twenty-five thousand nine hundred and six
dollars; and IN the western States. thrty-six thous
and thres hundred ami thirty hTes d lars.
The reason assigned for the cnespness Of cor
structon of railroads at the South is, that they
were built on the cash plan. Among the net ear
nings the Panama shows the largest returns, being
twenty mine thousand five hundred and sixty-four
dollars per mile ami those earning the least, or
nothing to stockholders, were found in Maine, Yer
mont, Mississippi, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, New
York, sc. The list of dividend paying roads com
prises seventy eight; among which, two pay an
annual dividend of Il per cent; nine 10 per cent
two, per cent; ten. per cent; six, 7 per cent;
thirty, per cent five, per cent; one, per cent;
one y and one, per cent. The list of delin-
quent companies On stock or bonds amounts to
thirty-three The total bonded debts of the Amer
lean railways, ell Of which mature between 1859
and 1874 amount to four hundred and eleven mil
lion one hundred and niniy-nine thousand seven
hundred and two dollars The total debts of the
State. including al iisblatiss, direct and indirect
loaes to railroads and expenditures for
canal and banking purposes, amount, according TO
Mr. Slows statement, to about two hundred and
ninety-one million eight hundred and ninety-fVs
thousand six hundred and sixty dollars. Many Of
the liabilities incurred hOEeVer, for canals, rail-
roads and banks cannot be considered in the light
of any direct charge upon the people. as they in
NEST cases, pay their interest and sinking funds
to the State, and in cases they yield surplus
revenue to the treasury, New Jersey has no direct
debt hut an Indirect liability account of canals
and railroad bonds of some seven millions, which
forms no tax upon the people. Connecticut, Della
ware, Rhode Island and New Hampshire have no
debts at al, neither direct nor indirect.