Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-10
BLOOMS" IN RAILROAD BUILD


ING.
That we are right in the midst OF one
Of the periodical "fiushes" Of railroad
enterprise, is shown more conclusively
by tables recently published, than by
any newspaper talk, IN which latter we
have taken occasion to indulge from
time to time.
We may follow the history OF railroad
construction in this country very accu'
rately by these figures, and they bear
out the idea We have advanced IN regard
to tn, present peiiol, that railroad
building ''goes by fits and starts, to
use homely phrase, governed by the
financial condition of the country. A
surplus OF money runs into railroads.
and when exhausted. railroad building
ceases for tune, until the condition oil
the finances change.
Going back as far as the years 1906,
preceding the panic OF 1857, we find
that in 1856, the number OF miles built
was 3,7I7. Then came the panic OF the
following year, and a falling of to l,S2l
miles in 1859.
In 1872, the year before the great
panic, there were 7,S40 miles OF railroad
built in the United States. Then came
the crash of 1873. when the number oil
miles built fell to 1888; in 1874 it reach
Ell the minimum of 1851 miles. In
1878 the figures had recovered some
what, the aggregate Of miles constructed
being 2,9l6. Last year the miles built
aggregated 1850, or only 100 miles. less
than in the flush year Of 1872. There
does not seem to be any room for doubt
ing that in 1881 these figures will be
largely exceeded, if not doubled. But
at the same time, il history repeats IT.
self, the climax will be reached this year
or next, and railroad building will then
take a rest for some years. Those States
which derive any benefit from the pres
ent boom will have to get into position
very soon.
Our chances in this section are some
what diminished too, when We examine
the tendency OF railroad development in
the past year. The great West is alb
sorbing all the capital. An old State
like ours, has but little chance unless
she adyertises her advantages. Capital
lists overlook her, because OF her age,
and pass on to new territory.
The distribution of the mileage laid
down in 1880 shows that east OF the Mis-
sissippi river only l,452 miles, or 2O.4
per cent. were constructed, west OF that
river the construction was 100 per
cent, or 5,69S miles. The main ten
deucy OF the construction has been
northwestward from Chicago and south
westward from st. Louis. Da-
kota, Colorado, Texas and New
Mexico are among the chief bene-
ficiaries OF the railroad system which is
being now pressed so rapidly towards
completion. Taking the Missouri river
as the east and west dividing line and
eschewing all States and Territories in
which railroad building fell short OF 800
miles in 1850, we find that in the North
west there were built in Nebraska S77
miles, in Minnesota 3l2, in Illinois S2l,
in Iowa 456, in Dakota, 72i, total OF
2,l9O miles. In the Southwest there
were built in Texas 653 miles, in New
Mexico $40, in Missouri Sl2, in Kansas
1853 and in Colorado S4S, a total OF 2,lls
ill.,
These figures serve to show not only
that we are right in the midst Of rail-
road boom, but that We are allowing the
major part of the surplus capital Of
the country to pass by West Virginia to
entirely new country, where railroads
must wait for population and business,
while we have here both the popula-
ton and immense mines OF wealth to
make business from the start.