Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-09-30
The new world is world of railroads. Nor

The new world is a world of railroads. More
than So 600 miles of track are distributed over
the surface of North America alone, and of
this length 7,i70 miles fall within the United
States. Between a third and a half of the rail-
roads of the world are included within the
limits OF our territory. The H. miles OF
Great B,itain, the 1928 miles of Germany,
the 3,7O2 miles of Russia and the ~ miles
of France are inconsiderab,e in comparison.
The development OF the railway system of the
United States, though il has already reached
vast proportions, and has in the excitem ent of
flush times Of the past sometimes extended in
Improbable directions, has not reached its
highest point. Unless the invention of some
means Of cheaper and more rapid transporta-
tion than By steam shall SuperSede the loco
motive. the work of laying railway tracks in
this country viii not be brought to an end for
many years The advantages OF railroads in
opening up new and undeyeloped soc:i1n
OF tie country and in binding together the
Eore Gersely settled portions do not need
To be dweit upon. One of The great
Offices performed by them is the transport
ton of the mails. From the time when siagle
coach first gave way as a mail carrier to the
postal ear, the railroad mail service has steadi-
ly grown, and It's growth has been comaal
Surate with that of the railway system n gen.
eral. The only check to its Increase vas at
the tine of the breaking out of the civil WA.
when mail service was discontinued in the
south OYER some 100 miles of railroad All
this was regained at the close of the war;
From 340l5 miles OF railway service in 1857 the
Total Is now 1i,5i5 miles, or not far from the
entire length OF the railroads OF the country,
Of the ten years in which this growth Of 4l0O
miles has taken place only i've haYe been
prosperous. The increase in new roltes was
more than 5000 miles in 1872 while for each of
the last three years it has been less than $50
miles. The extension Of our mail service has
not only been in the area OF territorial diStri-
button, but also in respect to the weight of
articles that are to be held mailable, and in
the character of such articles themselves.
This latter fact the express companies well
appreciate. Corresponding to the growth in
Its population there has been an increase in the
cost OF the railway mail service up to last year,
when the amount required for this purpose
was less than that for the two preceding years
owing to reduction in the rates of pay made
by Congress. 1t is not impossible that year
may soon be reached when the railway service
must be curtailed instead of increasing, as it
has from the beginning. As the amount paid
The railroads depends on the amount of mail
carried, and as this weight cannot be regu-
lated by the Post Office department, the ap-
preparation by Congress of sum insufficient
TO pay for service over all the lines would make
necessary the discOntinuance of mails on
some of the routes. The constant reduction
by Congress of the rates of compensation for
mail carrying to railroads, might also have the
same effect by bringing the rate offered below
the amount for which some of the railroads
would be willing to perform the service
The difference between the characteristics
OF yellow fever as exhibited in the present
epidemic and in those of past years has
brought some persons almost to the belief
that 1t Is not the same disease. One sign,
however, which distinguishes the yellow fever