, 1879-08-01
OUR RAILROADS.

Their Growt1, nt1u Operations from 1871 to
1873.
0 A""e, 1s. Snf =; &. 4. st E"ta %sssas Sss n 's m
In presenting the Twelfth annual number Of
the Manual q! Railroads Ut tho United States
tue editor says: We are enabled carl, year to
Improve somewhat upon tho preceding, IRON
tho more Detailed information furnished hy thu
companies, and especially from thu reports Of
buseal,s or departments established In Q large
number of the Statcs for tlic general oversight
Of their railroads. Tho establishment Of suull
departments III oil tho States would 10
Of very grcat public utility. In o,sr pros
cnt number NC urs able, for the ii.st TING
for several ycnrs, to report very decided re.
covery OF the railway interest OF the country
from its recent exceedingly depressed condition,
During tho ycAr ending Dec. 8l 1878, e.tai miles
OF tie now line were opened, the total mileage
IN operation IN tho United States at thin, date
betrs 8l,6il miles, The construction Of these
routes has again been entered upon WITH
renewed acttvty ind spirit, and Is ttkety 10 cou-
ttnue. As not ouc-!lalf Of onr public domain Is
yot occupied, It is fair 10 nasne TINT not one-
halt Of our future railroAd mileage hAs hscn
! built. II Is certain TO Keep pncc, for long
time, In the older States, with thu nctcasr vi
tl,tir population, and ot their cosn:arreia! anl
] tH4ustriul development. III The leW States aEt
Territories the progrcss Of our railroads kerns
pace with TINT Of our neoplo, supplying the ave-
ntits through which new ltMds are rencllcd and
their products sent 10 market,.
a remarkable feature III The railroad opera-
| tlons Ut the country tor several ycnrs Unst thus
| beun the enormously Increased tunnoEr In Tie
| iacu Of u ia1.a falling of Of rurnts14s. The
! Aeclas 1t, earnings has been due 70 ycry great
Reductions IN chargcs for transportation. Within
| tho last decade ihe tonun.s tralc on our Fai-
ruads longeat In operat!tIn las brun fully
| doubled, while lheso has becn nnly an lncon-
siderable fncFcaae IN earnings fTOtn this sourct.
Rlnre l613, thu year III which tho earnngs nj our
ra!troads reached tlielr maximum, the Increase
| vi their tonnage has eGnulGtl 80 per cunt,
although the periotl bus been one Of unexdulplgd
business depression a raforcuc0 to the ala,c-
tnens OF The several roads will htaow that at tho
| very tiu,e at which thrru has been tilu greatest
merchandise has steadily anu largely Increased.
Thu tontagU Ut tic New York Gsitral u llHtl.
son Hsyer Railroad in 1857 eaanled 3,l90,SlU
to,,s; in 1875 ,}, 955 tous; and IN la1S, i, l15,:
ty5. Tho earnings iroM frcglt IN this roud
sa7 M cHu9s T. ssa *tt|9S; i y l ~ slueto r.
the pust iiyu ycars llc1eusetl over 81 per cent,
wh.ls the earnings were slightly rcdarci. Tho
| rate fur tlic transportation OF freight In 1S7t
c4ualrl l.514 ce,lta per tun; III lS7S. $40 OF q
crut per ton per NILE. The vast lncEcasa of ton
mayo GIL tllis md other suads Tor the past i've
revival of general prosperity which Is showing:
ttset on cvurY hand, tho ratlsoatis will them,
selyes start upon new career, With MI Aruplt
tonungc tsatlc, tbs rates III which arc only to be
slightly Increased to A1d enormously to thelr Dcl
sarninga. Had tls rates. ut 1873 on tie hus
IuainEalHed, thu carntngs OF HAT road
tho past year from freight would have
e4uulcl 3l.u90, ,003, IN place Ut sl9,tl5 S3O The
amount EueetYed Ilc experience a,l1 caampl,