New-York tribune., 1872-07-02
RAILWAY PROGRESS IN AMERICA.

Poor's Railway Manual, just published, fur
nishes much useful and interesting information In re-
gard the progress Of railway construction in the
United States. Commencing with % miles in 1850, the
number miles constructed at the close OF 1871 was
eOs52 In the mileage constructed vas s99 IN 1870
645 and 1871 753 making in the three years total
of 1857 miles The largest mileage in any previous year
since was in 1885, when it reached 36i3. During
the four years OF civil but 3,273 miles
we're built. The State of Massachusetts has
one mile OF railway TO ass square miles
OF territory similar ratio wonld give TO the States OF
NewYork and Pennsylvania 10000 miles of line respec-
lively and Illinois 900 miles, or more than twice It's
present mileage The Of railroads in this country
win average $4,000 per mlethe total for the 6Os52
miles being in round numbers OOO0OO00 The cost OF
the mileage constructed the past year, at 10000 per
mile was s225OOOOO At least S5OOOOOOO more were ex
pended In new works ana equipments on old roads
making aotal expenditure the past wear OF s275OOOo
The rapdity OF the increase Of business of the rail-
reads of the United States and of the quantity and
value of their gross tunnaee traffic Is still remark
able than the rapid progress Of these works In 1851 the
total earnings from passengers were for Ss35 miles,
$19 254 and from freighs s20192 OO-an aggregate OF
394G635s In 1861 the total earnings were Sl50VOc
and in 1871 $4,000 The tunnage of all the railroads
in 1861 estimated at 100000 net tuns for 1886 miles
while in 1871 the net tunnage was 1mOOO,OO tuns on
eOs52 miles. The net reduced to pounds OF all
the railroads of the country In 1884, equaled 464
pounds TO the head Of population; in 1861, 1872
pounds; in 1871, 5000 pounds per head Tie
value Of this tunnaee per head In 1851 equaed 55 B IN
1861 SIG 92 and in 1871 1915 per head The increase OF
mileage Of railways constructed from 1851 TO 1861 was at
the rate of 20 per per From 1861 to 1871 the
rate of about 10 per cent The in
crease Of tunnage from 1861 80 cent per
annum from 1861 1871 at the rate Of % per cent per
The increase OF population from s5 10 1851 was
at the rate per cent annually; from 1861 to 1871 at
the rate Of $40 per cent per annum From 1851 10 1861
the unnage of the country increased annually at rate
$3.50 per greater than that Of the population and
from 1861 10 1871 2.5 per cent greater.
The cost Of transporting Indian corn and wheat over
ordinary highways will equal 20 cents per tun per mile.
At such rate the former will bear transportation only
l2 miles market while its value Is equal to 70 cents
per bushels tie latter only go miles while its value Is
81 80 per bushel. With such highways only, our most
valuable cereals will have no commercial value outside
circles having radh Of l25 and 80 miles respectively.
Upon railroad the transportation equals II cents per
tun per mile. With such work. consequently tile circle
within which and wheat at the prices named. Will
have a marketable value will he drawn upon radi OF
1000 and 5000 miles, respectively. The area OF circle
with radius Of miles b 1887 square miles that OF
circle drawn upon radius OF IoOO miles Is about l6o
times greater or sos2 Oe Ees Such difference enoT-
nous as it is, only the value OF the new
agencies employed in transportation, and the results
achieved compared with the odd.
The above statement shows that the railroads Of this
country have importance in the domestic economy OF
its people possessed by other They in fact the
markets every portion of 1t. Wherever they CON
structed they give Immediately ana everywhere high
commercial value TO the products Of labor. With such
results the OF people TO construct railways
cannot be wondered at and the of the States
and organized territories exoed 100000 square miles,
the construction Of fhese works must proceed at rapid
rate til aggregate shall eXceed many fold the
ent mileage They TO benme the common highway
Of every portion Of our wide domain.