The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-16
sTAUNTON, VIRGINIA, DECEMBER IS, 1880.
VALLEY VIRGINIAN.
Railway Entarnrlsa.

The R0itcay Age of Chicago publishes
an article ON the railway equipment man
ufactured during the present year, based
upon statistics furnished in reply to the cir
cular asking information from railroad Of
ticials. Sixty-four roads furnished the de-
sired information, representing q per
cent. OF the total mileage. Since January
rolling stock 1886 locomotives and 24,175
cars Of various descriptions, OF which 295
were passenger coaches. I he value of these
additions to their rolling stock foots up a
total of $13, $3.50, $50. The same companies
have in addition given orders for l03 en-
gines and $3.50 cars, to be supplied before
the close of the year, representing value
OF $365S, 1926, so that the years outlay for
| rolling stock alone will make a total Of
| S17,3l5,275 Based upon these reports a
rough estimate is made as to the outlay for
the entire railway mileage of the country,
and the figures are most astonishing. viz !:
1.595 locomotives, 1873 passenger and mail
coaches, and 66.6O7 freight cars, the outlay
sixty-four companies also included the rails
and ties laid since the LIST Of January. Steel
| rails were laid on Ito miles, requiring
l56, 300 tons. which at an average of $50
per ton, cost a9,378 800; the iron rails laid
have been 673 miles, requiring 1862 tons,
costing, at an average of $40 per ton,
so, l89, 100; the ties number $500, 729, cost
ing So, 424, 290-making total for rails and
ties $l4, 1892, 900. The same companies esti-
mate that during the balance of the year
they will lay 56S miles of steel and 159
miles Of iron rails, with 1925, 600 ties, the
cost of which will be $3.175, 5OO-making
the outlay by these roads for rails and ties
more than $l9,000,000. Taking the pnr-
chases actually reported by the roads men,
toned as the basis, the estimate for the en-
tire mileage will be /: Steel rails, s. 429 miles
or 744 $40 tons iron rails, 3.205 nriles, or
23l 721 tons, and 40, 765. 900 ties, represent
ing a total outlay of $7l, 146, 100. If the
value of the rolling stock is added, the
grand total Of outlay will reach grand
total of nearly s9l, 100000. These figures,
although claiming the dignity of statistics
only so far rs they apply to the companies
actually reporting, are highly interesting as
showing the immense contribution of our
railway companies to the prosperity of our
manufacture, ana all the other interests that
are linked in the supply of materials to
make up this grand result,
This activity in railroad enterprises is
opening up, too, the vast unoccupied terri
tory of the country for settlement, thus pre-
senting opportunity for the overcrowded
cities to be relieved of their surplus popu-
lation, and converting the labor element
into agents for the creation Of new values.
The history Of no country and OF no period
gives such evidence as is now before us Of
the vast schemes for the construction of rail-
ways into almost every section of the
Union. The immense territory of the
Northwest is being penetrated by several
comprehensive lines. The intervening
country between the Gulf coast and Pacific
slope is to be spanned by iron rail all
through the South old projected lines are
being revived; existing roads extended
new enterprises inaugurated; and degree
of energy and push manifested in every
direction in railroad construction, that
promise an era OF unparalleled life,. vigor
and development. These manifested enter
prises are so many outlets for the surplus
labor of the country, inviting the adventu-
rous OF our population into new fields of
endeavor, to extend the boundaries of
American civilization and augment the
grandeur Of our free Republic.