The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-07-25
RAILROADS OF TIL: COUNTRY.
The Depression I'm Traffic and Its
Ca ses-g Citations OF Population To
Railways-Statistic of Earnings,


The Depression I'm Traffic and Its
Ca ses-E Citations OF Population to
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of Earnings,
etc.
We select the following concerning
the airoads of the United States In
1876 from advance sheets OF Poor's
Manual. The facts given are highly I'M
portant and useful, throwing great light
as they do upon the subject OF our railroad
interests in their present status, and in
dicating what Is to be the the basis of ex-
pectations as regards the future:
The number of miles OF railroad open
ed during the year 1876 was $50,
AGAINST 1919 miles for 1875 and 1911
miles for 1874. The excess of miles
built, rs compared with the two preced-
ing years, is due almost entirely to the
great activity in the Southern Pacific
lines, and in narrow gauge lines in Ohio,
Texas and Colorado. No new lines OF
any considerable magnitude have been
undertaken.
The gross earnings of all the roads
whose operations have been reported
have equaled S497, PSI, 959, against $685.,
065, sos in 1875 The gross earnings
have fallen of IS, S07 $40; the net earn
ings have increased t946,3l4. This in
crease has been due chiefly to the great
ecor omies praticed IN conducting the
operations OF the roads. Whether these
economies have been at the expense of
the condition OF the roads the future
must determine. The introduction of
steel rails mas doubtless been consider
able element in the cheaper ratio OF op-
Grating expenses.
The present Is the tenth annual issue
OF the Manual, covering the period from
1867 to the present time This period
embraces the years of greatest activity In
all enterprises connected with railroads
since their first opening in 1880. Its
publication, therefore, naturally suggests
comparison between the condition OF
our railroads and the general business
OF the country now and ten years ago.
There We're in operation ut the time OF
the issue of the first Manual, for l8GS-69,
being for the year ending December 81,
1867. 1926 miles oil railroad, Of which
1888 miles were in New England, 9,555
in the Middle States, Is 226 in the West
ern, 1916 In the Southern, and 43l In
the Pacific States. The Union and
Central Pacific railroad mad not
Decu completed. There was not
n mile of railroad in Utah.
Dakota, Colorado, Washington
Territory or Indian country, where now
are 2,l36 miles, and in all the territory
west OF the Mississippi river
and east of the Pacific slope
where now are 1876 miles,
supplying the wants Of II population Of
:, 10000, there were then but 3, 1868 miles
OF railroad, with population OF 4,2O5,-
900.
In the last ten wears the railroad mile
age has nearly doubled, the increase in
population has been only twenty-three
per cent, the railroads having increased
more than four times as rapidly Ms the
The number OF inhabitants
TO mile of railroad In 1867 was 925,
while In 1876 it was only 81. The eX-
perieuce of the New England States
that, to enable railroads to
be operated a. n profit, a population OF Mt
least $50 TO mile of railroad is ueces-
sarv IN this country. The history OF the
railroads in the Western States also
proves it. In the earlier days of the sys
tenn nearly all the lines built III the
Western States brought handsome re
turns to their builders; but with the H.
cresslug profits came still greater IN
hn M
attended them led to an enormous devel-
opment of the system. The methods OF
building were also changed, and the de-
preston which has attended their opera
tions during the last three years is large
" owing to the undue stimulus which
the first successes created. In the West
ern States iu 1867 there were 7S7 10
habltants to mile OF railroad
in 1876, and there were but 421
inhabitants TO mile The inevitable re-
sui, has followed, and that result cannot
be over come until the population shall
again increase to the necessary proper
tion,
Ia the first issue of the Manua IN
1878 this result was clearly toretold, a.
though the fact has exceeded the antci
patton both in time and amount. We
then SAID: The annual mileage of rail-
road is likely, Tor some time to come, to
exceed in ratio the increase OF pOpula-
ton. From 1870 the increase Ui the
latter may be estimated ut l 900 600 All
pusliy, while the number OF miles Of
railroads constructed will probably equal
1000 annually. Their CONSTRUCTION will
bee prompted by consideration OF the adj
ysntages TO he derived from them in pro-
noting the industries and in facilitating
the social intercourse of the people
rather than by any direct income they
may yield"
The statement concerning population
and the income of our roads has been
verified; but IN respect OF the increase OF
railroads constructed, instead of 1000
miles year, we have had since 1870 Il
YEARLY average OF over 1000 miles,
COMPRISING in six years what under the
circumstances seemed eXtravagant tor
twelve wears, and thus giving US =
growth of population and resulting bust.
ness OF only 100000, instead OF 1000
600 people as then estm stei,
Since 1854 there has been an increase
in railroad earnings Of 80 cents per capt.
IA per snnum. The net earnings for
1876 were $ls6, 452, 752.-Hsd the pro-
gre.s of population, kept pace with thst
of railroads, or rather had We restrained
the progress of our railroads to the pro-
gress OF population, tue net earnlngs
would have exceeded the present amount
by over S25,0O0,000, or equal to u reve-
nue. 81 = per cen. on S420,UOO, 0OO-suti-
Gent to have saved from default the
greater part of the more important
lines which have been obliged to orego
the payment Of interest on Their funded
debt.
The earnings from transportation of
freight, mails, etc, for the year 1876
were upon 1902 600 tons OF freight.
As compared with the previous year the
tonnage transported shows an Increase Of
6O72,0OO, while the freight earnings