, 1881-03-18

1881 l,......,., ..,blIU IUN,Q0u p5,uU h4u
The railroad system Of tho United States
during tho fifty years from Its beginning has
been extended into every State and Terri
tory. including States md Territories which
have been ncQuiretl within forty years. 1t
includes two trunk lines to tic Pacific Oceali
and tWp more we'll under way; It Includes
five trunk lines from Like MlchigNl, to tho
Missouri River; 1t includes half a dozen
lines from the Atlnntic, with numerous
branches, to the Mississippi River; 1t includes
two lines from tho Mexican boundary OH the
Kto Granle, ono to San Francisco aisl tho
other 10 Luke A1!ehigan; and Includes sew
ernl routes from New England, fro1El tho
Ohio River, ntltl from Like Michigan to New
Orleans, and beyond that, through Texas, to
Galveston and tho Rio Nranle. 1T tho sryer-
nj States and Territories thore is Il close net
work Of rails connecting the whole country
directly for all purposes Of tratlle, There IL
hnrllIyn county or town III all the land which
llus not Ilear communication with tho
whole railway System Of tho country. Tin
proportion Of population to q milo Of RAILWAY
Is now down to 540, anu tho work Of COLI
structfon continues, alld never 1nUro OK.
travngantly tl,an now.
1t isa serious question, both for the rall-
WAY companies mid for tic country generals
", whether it Is not now full time to stop tho
extension Of q single truck for railroads into
distant. unsettled. and Improbable districts,
and begin tho cheaper and directly profitable
construction OF additional tracks on MI tho
gr6at roads traverslng tho productive and
more tlcnscly populated Suites. Tho COLL
they hive secured tho right of eityallt4, Into
every city, town, antl yi!lago OH tholr routes;
tllBy hAvo erected tleir tlop0ts, tlielr stations
houses, their water supplies. their wnro.
houses, their macl!nu shops. riey have
thoir switeEmon md ilag,ntl, aild hnvo IN
Cured nil tic cost OF construction. ai,l arc
now Mt tlle expense Of ,nalntAIning u Single
track RAILWAY. There Is not an east
md west trunk Ilno OF railway III
| tho country, betwcen tho Mississippi
| and Atlnntic, which IL capable ii
performing tho transportation offered to II
sufely anu satisfactorily OIL single truck
Tho attempt to carry oil .tts business Oh q
single track Involves u cost for EXPENSES
which Is very great. Not to aay anything o.
tic wrecks md destruction OF property b.,
! constantly occurring collisions, tho loss 01
time, the detention OF ofbusEncss. tho Inevitable
uncertainties md danaurs, add Immensely
to wl,atnre called tho operating expenses.
Tho addition OF Il Secund track wnult cos
comparatively little. Such n track Will
stcol rails may bo laid Mt Il cast not cxceedilu
$4,000 tn VIZ, 700 pur mile. 1t wiilsbe ncces
sary to l.Rvu now Or additional brld ges 'an'
culyorts, but tilu average c1st ut constructing
second track of steel raiIs un all tho road
west of the ..4Alugl,olllps would not bo, one
hnlt or o!,r-tlifrl Us ,llicl AZ lius nltcaly beo
expended OH the existing single trauk.
Tllp Chicago j. Northwestern, tile ati
waukoe H. st Paul, tho Chicago. BnrlllR
ton u Quincy, the Alton Il st. Louis. III
Ch!cago Il lsock 1sl.ll,d, alpt the Illinois Cen
tra! eould well attortl to lRy ttowl
SECOND tracks OH all tl!clr r0asls !!
tliis Stato aI.d in Iowa and WiSe0nsln.
thu Michigan Central could Il II secol,
truck to Dotrnit, ttio plttsburR d. Foft Wayil
to rlttsbuyR, tic Michigan SoutllerIl IL LUX
Shore to It's connections with the Now Yus
Central, tho baltimore l. Ohio to Wtlee
: thy, tho GRAND Trunk from Chicago to Poi
Huron, md the Wabash to Chleago all
, Toledo.
Such MI additional truck woult cnab
those r0nus to Increase their cnppcit..' tlrt
! Or four fo!tt, and would reduce tho cost
: transportation oil ths Whole business Ia
inel,sely. IL theso r0ads Gull HOW, with
. single track. with all thelr trains running Q
, tt,e saNe rail, Including those running in 6I
| postt directions, with the delays tile want
I | rooln, tic countless Inevitable AcclAents, U