The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-07-03
OUR RAILROADS.
what Has Been Accom- Iished During
fs73-A Comprehensive Exhibit OF
the Railroad Enterprise of Our

] ~ ""hsgo"u 6nteSPEsss VI VoS
Country.
the following statistics from proof-sheets
0f"Poors Manual, now being published
II says
Referring TO the proof-shcets, we find
that there are G6.0y6 miles of railroad in
the United States. of which the operations
are given, against 81 1923 miles in ls72, and
i4,Gl4 miles i'm 1871. Nearly all the new
road built i'm 1872 was during the first
quarter of the year, building since that
time having practically stopped, at lest so
far as new railroad lines are concerned.
The aggregate cost of the several roads AT
the end ofls73 was S3,7Gl .973. 1872, or nearly
double the amount of the national debt.
The increase of cost for 1873 over 1872 was
SGO2. 90, 265, and over 1871 was : .0S5.-
s3l SOS. OF the total cost at the end of
1873, 81, $40, 63s.5Si WIS represented by
share capital. and II. s2l .33i.73s by vari-
Gus forms of debt. chiefly bonds maturing
at distant day. The total gross earnings
for the year 1873 were SJ27 POI. 1913. against
Si6s, 24l ,0j5 for 1872. and SI03, 1879. DOS fer
ISL. The increase of earnings for 1873
was $4,000. PCS for 1872. S64.9ll 81; the
total for two years being Sl23.9 1862, >. The
per centage of increase for 1873 over 1872
was ia per cent; for 1872 over 1871. II
per cent OF the total earnings for the
year 1873, 1856. jl2. $50 were received from
frcights, and Sl39,7 .53i from passengers.
The current operating expenses were
S3l4. 431 ,52S. or GJ. , per cent. of the gross
earnings. Amount paid in dividends was
S59,5GG,3l6. or 3.07 per cent. on the aggre-
gate amount of share capital. The ratio of
mileage to inhabitants in 1873 was one mile
.ofroad TO every 5s2 inhabitants, against one
mile 10 every 600 inhabitants in 1872. The
percentage of net earnings upon the cost
of the roads for 1873 was 4 90. against j. 20
for Isl , and 5.32 for ISL. The Increase of
mileage in 1872 and 1873 was 1866. while
the increase of the cost of the roads in the
same time was 81 ,0s5,s 3l sos. As explain
ing this point. we quote Mr. Poor, who
says: 1T is hardly possible that the earn
ings should increase in ratio TO such an
enormous expenditure. "a two or three
years often elapse after its opening before
a railroad is in position to do much bust
ness. for the want of adequate equipments,
or from the unfinished condition of it
tracks. or for the want of suitable connec-
ton, or from pecuniary embarrassments.
On the other hand. the earnings of these
works. per head of population, i'm 1873,
was ~l2.s0. against Sll.63 for 1872. and
$3.50 for ISL. This j. a most encourag-
ing feature in connection with these works.
as it shows that, under ordinary condi-
tons. their earnings must increase for an
indefinite period. i'm very rapid ratio.
more clearly setted-the increase per head
in the Eastern States being fully as great
as in the Western and more sparscly set
tied States. AT the rate Of the past three
years the earnings of our railroads Will
double themselves in the next six years
without the construction OF an additional
mile of line: the population is increasing
at the rate Of 100000 annually. BY 1850.
the earnings of the roads now in operation
will probably exceed $1,000. 100000. The
percentage of their earnings to their cost
will come fully up to twenty per cent.-a
rate which. with good management. i
sufficient to render the whole Investment
reasonably remunerative.'
Classifying the railroads of the country
by sections. we find that the mileage of
railroads in the New England group of
States for 1873 was 5,3O3. against 4. ga for
1872. Their cost was S263. 6y7 rs, against
$3.50. 609,74 i'm 1872, and was made up of
Sill .473.320 of share capital and Sl22,22I,
40 of debt. Their average cost per mile
was Si9.Ss2, against SOL for 1872.
Their gross earnings were S5l .G76.6Ss.
against SIS, 5l9, s35 for 1872. OF the gross
earnings $40. 3l00i3 Were received for the
transportation of freight, and 81, $3.50
for the transportation passengers. The
percentage of gross earnings 10 the cost
of the roads was 1876 per cent. The net
earnings were Sl5.O6l.117. and equaled
1892 per. cent. of such cost. The earn
ings per head of population equaled
Sli.30. against $l3.53 for 1872. The divi-
equaled 6.36 per cent. on the total share
capital. The ratio of total mileage To popu-
lation was one mile of line TO every So in-
habitants, against 700 for one mile i'm 1872.
The mileage of the railroads in the Mid
die States for 1873 was L.. AL. against II,
6l7 for 1872. Their cost was Sl.l2G. 702.-
lO7 for 1873, against S992,7O0.776 for 1872.
Their gross earnings were Sl9i, 052, 302
against Sl69, 205.307 for 1872. OF the
gross earnings Sl52 .2j0000 We're derived
from freights and So .675, 900 from pas
sengers. The net earnings were 500 800
BOO, or 6.22 per cent. of the cost AS il stood
At the end of 1873. The dividends paid
amounted to S30.5i9. 22j, or ~ per cent.
on the share capital.
The miles of railroads in the Western
States for 1873 were 3. $50. against 2S.S7s |
for 1872. Their cost was S1.70s. IS. 522. 1
against y, Az, 625, 232 for 1872. Their gross /
earnings We're S2ll. 1l7.1sl. against Sl73,- |
s26, 252 for 1872. OF these S53, 100000 were |
derived from freights. and Sl57 800 900 from
passengers. The dividends paid amounted |
20 Sl9,06,3i7, or 2.26 per cent. on the |
share capital of the roads.
The mileage Of railroads of the Southern |
states for 1873 was 1851, against 1886 |
Tor 1872. Their cost was sos, - ,lO6, I.
against Sl0l. 9l3,261 i'm 1872. Their gross !,
earnings were S53,G96.i 400. against Si7,-
IS, $50 for 1872. OF the earnings SIS. 49, !
40 were derived from freights. and Sl5.-
'lO,9s9 from passengers. The dividends I
paid amounted to S95l, 1856. or less than
-wo per cent. on the share capital.
The miles Of railroad in the Pacific States |