The Portland daily press., 1873-07-14
Railway Progress.

Several days since New York despatch
gave some statistics taken from Mr.. Poor's
railway record, just published. that showed
the remarkable progress made in the exten
sion of railroads the past few years. The in
crease of railway lines more surely indicates
the progress that is being made in the subju-
cation of the continent TO the uses of man
than any other single enterprise. Although
in a general way we are are aware of the
great extent to which railway building has
been carried the past few years, most of us
are not a little surprised when il is shown that
since 1854, the length of our railway lines has
been more than doubled and their facilities
for transportation increased in far greater
ratio. In 1864, the number of miles of rail-
road in operation was 33,90S, while in 1872,
the number of miles is given as 81, 104.
The nine years included in this period came
toward the close of the great civil war, to
which the country was devoting all its ener
gies, and in the years Immediately following,
when the finances of the country were in the
most unsettled condition and while the gov
ernment..was paying off nearly third of its
great debt; yet in this time more miles Of
railroad were built than during the thirty-four
years preceding 1864. In the history of the
world there has been no parallel for such an
immense development of the most important
of modern agencies for promoting the mate
rial interests of country, and certainly no
such example of the marvellous recuperative
energy of nation.
1t is question how long this rate of rail-
road construction can be maintained. 1t
must be admitted that there is no evidence of
abatement at the present time. Two addi-
tional lines are under construction to the Pa
cifc coast-the Northern Pacific and Texas
Pacifc-and will doubtless be completed in
three or four years. In all par6s of the coun-
ry there are long and short lines struggling
with indomitable courage against the fates.
1t was remarked the other day by railroad
man that there was hardly dollar in the
country for each mile of road projected. This
is doubtless an exaggeration; but if the ''sin
ews'' OF railroad building are not exhausted,
the nation may add TO its many causes of joy
on its centennial, jubilant note over 100,-
WV iiHCo vi COluplcbCu uOu duu OIJ-
land may rejoice in a new and direct line to
the West.
There has always been general impression
that Great Britain does most things better
tan we do here in the United States. If the
recent statistics published in the New York
Tribune are correct, as to the cost, earnings,
etc., of the railways in both countries, the
English people are not our superiors in this
most important department of national de-
velopment, as will be seen from the following,
taken therefrom:
United States. ct. Britain.
Cost of railways So 1853 423 O57 So. 1863, 400 555
GosI per mile. .;......'.' oo,ldo 1871 sly
Earnings per mile. S,526 15,O00
Percentage of earnings TO
COST .-................ l3.OO $40
Earnings PER 100 Of popu-
ION. S.0b Si.iU
What effect the present anti-railroad move
ment in the West and the disposition here and
there indicated to repudiate municipal and
county bonds issued to railroad companies to
secure the construction of lines may have
upon capitalists, and particularly the thou
sands of people of small means who have dur
ing the past few years invested their small
surplus in such securities, it is impossible to
predict; but it certainly cannot injure those
corporations and municipalities that show
disposition to pursue an honorable and
Of oaurSa