The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-26
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT TOPICS COMPILED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
THE RAILWAYS OF THE UNITED
STATES
From the N. Y. Times


there were in operation, in the United
States, on the first day of January, 1871,
53.145 miles of railroad, of which 6145 we're
opened the past year-a greater number than
in iany previous year by 26e0 miles The
total earnings of these roads during the past
year were $3.50, 600, 900. The gross tonnage
transported over them equalled 125, 900, 900
tons, having a value of more than 10000
O0O 900. Their cost may be put down, in
round numbers, at So, 400, 100000. Their
mileage, in ratio to the population of the
country is as / to 723. Their earnings equal
$11'75 to each inhabitant. The tonnage
transported equalled - tons to each; the value
of this tonnage equalled 1882 to each. "All
this vast tonnage and commerce, Mr.. Poor
remarks, ''has been wholly created by the re-
duction effected in the cost of transportation.
The cost, for example, of transporting ton
of Indian corn or wheat over ordinary high
ways will equal 20 cents per mile. At such a
rate the former will bear transportation only
125 miles to market where its value is seventy
five cents per bushel the latter only $50
miles, where its value is 81 80 per bushel. With
such highways only, the most valuable of
our cereals will have no commercial value
outside of circles having radii of 125 and 250
miles respectively. Upon railroads, the cost
of transporting these articles equals only one
and quarter cents per ton per mile. With
these works, consequently, the areas within
which corn and wheat will have a CONNER
cial value will be drawn upon radii of 1000
and 5000 miles respectively. The area of
circle having radius of 125 miles is 40, 0S7
square miles; that of a circle drawn on a
radius of 1000 miles is 160 times greater, or
8,042, 406 square miles. Such difference,
enormous as it is, only measures the value of
the new agencies employed in transporta-
ton, and the results achieved, compared with
the DID,"
The rapid growth of this colossal interest
is as wonderful rs is its present magnitude.
In 1851 there were only 1876 miles of line in
actual operation in the United States. Their
total earnings that year were $39, ,466, ,358-a
sum which equalled only $1'55 per head of
population. In 1860 the number of miles in
operation were 80, ,635. Their earnings were
1853, 175,O00, or $4'98 per head. In 1870
their earnings equalled $11'75 per head
The annual increase of earnings from 1850 to
1860 was $11, $40, 1854; from 1860 to 1870,
$29, ,6S2, 500, annually. With the progress of
railroads in unoccupied districts it is proba-
BILE that from 1870 to 1880 the rate of in
crease of earnings will be- annually, one dol
lar per head of our population. Such rate
would give for the present decade an annual
increase Of, say $43,000,000, or aggregate
earnings of nearly $500, 100000, yearly, at its
close.
The rate of increase of our population is
about two and one-half per centum annually.
Mr.. Poor estimates, from the rapid progress
made in the mechanic arts, that the produc-
tive capacity of our people increases in four
fold ratio to that of their numbers and that,
consequently, the wealth of the country
doubles with every decade. 1t is certain that
the railroad tonnage of the country was three
times greater in 1870 than it was in 1860.
This rapid increase of national wealth is
solving, most satisfactorily, the problem of
the future of our national debt. If the
wealth of the country increases at the rate
of ten per cent. annually, the revenues will
increase at similar rate, provided there is
no reduction in that of taxation. But the
rate Of taxation may be largely decreased
each year, without any reduction in the
amount of revenues collected Such is the
fortunate position of this country, compared
with that of any other. In no other is the
annual increase in the population and wealth
an element of first-rate Importance in the cal
culations of the statesman. The position of
our Chief Minister of Finance, consequently,
is most fortunate one. The wind and tide
are always in his favor. Each year one mil
lion are added to the list of Taxpayers.
Their constantly and rapidly increasing
means will more and more confirm them in
their traditional policy of considering theil
public debts in the light of commercial trans
actions, to be fully hquidated at some future
day. In other countries the payment of pub
lie debts is a proposition not to be enter
tanned. They are institutions-a part, as il
were, of the Governments themselves. Ii
this country those who contracted our public
debt are the very parties who are to pay it
and they will never rest satisfied till it is fully
liqaidated, as have been those created on tive
previous occasions, and which were far mort
burdensome, considering the number anC
wealth of our people, than the present one.
Of the ultimate extent to which the con
struction of railroads in this country will b.
carried no estimate can be formed. The,
are to become the common highways of ou
people, and their progress in the future i
likely to be much more rapid than in tn
past. Even in the old States great exten
of mileage is now under construction. Tn
adoption of 7aG1TOo gauges, of from two t.
three feet, by reducing largely the cost of thes
works, will greatly stimulate their construC
ton. There are now in the State of Masss
chusetts one mile of railroad to every fiv
miles of area. A similar ratio for the Who'll
country would give an aggregate of NOR
than 600, 600 miles of line! While such a
extent of line is not possible, there is N
doubt that upon an area of 1900, 900 squar
miles railroads will be rapidly constructed, til
the ratio now existing in Massachusetts i
reached. Their progress will, of course, de
pend largely upon that of our population
but their construction will proceed in a rati
much more rapid than that of our numbers
One of the most interesting facts in col
nection with these works is the enormoU
power which our great companies are rapid
acquiring, by means of consultations of Col
Meeting or competing lines. The Pennsy
vania Railroad Company, for example, no
controls, absolutely, 1918 miles of line, II
cost of which is S247, $40, ,632, with earnin,
of $50, ,634, ,O04 for the past year! The san
cOmnanv has an indirect control over a larl