The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-06-19

riics irula ICONS -M~na.i de iV.Iowln.
array o. facts and figures: Referring TO
the proof sheets. we iind that there ara
o6os6 miles OF railroad in the United
states, 81 which the operations are Civ
ca against 57.3as miles in l-72. and A.
.6lf miles ia 1871 Nearly NJ 'he new
road built ia 1873 was dnriu- tic FIRST
'qugirr of The wear. huiding since that
time having practically stopped. al least
81 far as new railroad lines are concern-
ed. The Aggregate cost ~ the several
roads al he end OF 1873. was s3,7ol.973.-
81. or nearly double the amount al the
national debt. The increase of cost for
1873 over 1872 was >eO2.i5O, a65. aud
over 1874 WAS Sl.CS5.s3lSOS. OF the
total cost AT the end 81 1879. II. 9iO.63s.-
5S4 wa represented by share capital.
aud sl.s2l. 33i.7SS bv various forms Of
debt. chiefly bonds maturing nj n distant
dav. Tho total gross earnings for the
year 1873 were 52-.29i3a3. against
Siss.2al O55 for 1872. and i03 3z9aCs
Tor ls7l. Tho increase Of earnings tor
lS73 was $4,000 26~ /: for ls-2 S64. oll.-
s57; the total Tor Two wears being Sl23.-
gs3. rs. The percentage of increase for
80 over ~. was la per rent; for
1874 over ISL. Is per cent. OF the total
earnings for the year 1874. S3S7542.7s9
were received from freights. and : 3d.
14S 53i from Passengers. The current
operating expenses were 1914 437, So. or
65.2 per cent. of the gross earnings The
amount paid in dividends was $50 .566.-
3i6. or 307 per cent on the aggregate
al
Of total mileage TO inhabitants IN 1873
vas one mile OF road 10 every $50 inhab-
itsnts. against one 10 every 600 inhaGii-
ants in 1872 The percentage of net
earnings upon the cost of the roads Tor
1873 was A.96, against 20 for 1872 and
5.32 for 1871. The
INCREASE OF MILEAGE
in 1874 and 1873 was 1867. while The
increase of the cost Of the roads i'm the
same time was SI,os5. s5l.sos A. ex.
planning this point. We quote Mr.. Poor.
WHO saws: at was hardly possible that
the earnings should increase in ratio 20
such An enorluous expenditure. a TWO
I or three years often rlapse after iis open
ing before \ railroad j. in position 10
do much business. for the want OF ade-
quate equipments. or from the nnfinish-
Ell condition of IL tracks, or from The
want OF suitable connection. or from pc
Icuniary endorsements. On The other
hand, the earnings of these work. per
7 head of population. in 1873. was Sl2 50
against Sll s3 for lS72. aud ; . go ior
ISL. This il most enc ouraging f0nturr
in connection with these work.. a, n
shows that under ordinary condition,
Y their earning must in' rcase. Tor an indcli-
mite period. in very rapid ratio. mor.
icienriy settled-.he increase Der head 10
the eastern st,teS being fully a : great o..
int he west 'rn and more sparsely settled
states. Al the rate Of The past three
years the rliniip-- 81 our railroads :, IN
double th-ni>ciS..~ ia The next III, wears
without The construction of an addition
al mile ot line tee population j. merge.
ng NJ tie rntr OF l.Oao0oO annnaiiy. nv
isSp. the earning. ~ the roa = uow in
operation viii prolabiv cxreeri s 10. +
IOeQ.cCo. The percentage ST their earn.
ing To their cost will cnme fully ~ "a
20 per cent, "a rate which. with good
management. j. sufficient 10 render The
whole investment reasonably remuncra-
Tive. The miles OF railroads ia The
western states for lS73. were 32.Ssy
against 2S.776 for 1872. Their cost wa,
Il 1Us, l57.52l. slinst 81 AZ. 62S. 3D., ioI
1872. Their