New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-01

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!sl0'.--....' ii2V ~ Js7 5l.6 2 3Ol
1sza'..-..... iII11a IA i'73s 80 g 2.9l6
lSIS......... ldl9 80 aoSf 710 1870
Is79'..."... 1235 2 29i SOS 1913 7,i5O
The year 1872 is the only one in which
the railroad building of 1880 was surpassed,
and then only by 100 miles But In 1877 IL
appears that go per cent OF all rallroau OuilV
was east of the Mississippi and ~ per cent
west of that river, while III 1851 only ~ per
cent was built east of the Mississippi ana oo
per cent west of it. More railroad was buitt
Inst wear west of the Mississippi alone than
has been built in all the States and Territories
in anv other year since 1872. THIS remarkable
change, moreover, appears to be only the result
of n tendency which was already manlfestlng
;tself "a early as 1878, for in that year the
nronortjon of railroad building west of the
Mississippi suddenly jumped from ~ to oo
per cent. The great development OF the
country in that direction was fully f0reseen'
as early as 1873, by enerprlsing men. lheir
fault was that they anticipated 1t too tar,
built railroads faster than the country coulo
use or pay for them, and failed to anticipate
and provide against the collapse which came
before the year 1873 had ended.
about where the former movement left OIL.
More miles Of railroad were built west OF the
Mississippi in 1879 than in 1872. ana IN
1880 there was surprising increase. IL
does not follow that the extension Is now
premature and dangerous because 1t was
eight years ago. There has been an enormous
increase in the population OF the tar-western
States and Territories, and In their natural
traffic. There are now 1924 miles OF railroad
in Dakota, against only 60 in 1870, but
the population is now l34,5o2 against
14.1Sl in 1870. The 724 miles built last
year represent the real needs OF large popu-
latiop already settled in the Territory, as well
as the certain demands of q much larger
population which will follow the extension OF
railroads. In like manner, Texas has now
1924 miles of railroad within its vast terri
tory. 653 miles having been built last year,
and in 1870 it had only I'll miles But Its
population has almost doubled during the de-
cade. and it now has much fewer miles of
railroad in operation, III proportion 10 popu-
lation, than many other States.
Nor can it be said that railroad building is
always premature, when it exceeds certain
ratio of miles to population. Much of the
railroad building at the far West during the
past year has been for the purpose OF COM
peting new lines across the continent and
thus securing share in tho large ana
profitable trade which the tranScontl-
mental road enjoys. Whether these roads,
or any of them, are premature, OF
will prove Improbable, must be Judged
on other grounds than the present dem
sity of population i'll the regions through
which they pass. The building of $40 miles
in New Mexico last year. and much OF the
railroad building in Arizona 19S niles, Texas
and Dakota, have been i'll part due To the
progress of through lines which, when finished,
may prove profitable, just as the Union aud
Central Pacific have, Notwithstanding the
comparatively slow growth OF local traffic
Nevertheless, the aggregate for the year Is
very large, and represents the expenditure OF
an enormous sum for which there may not he
at present adequate returns in ddhional pro-
fits for the railroad system rs whole. In the
States and Territories there are now 93,637
miles of railroad in operation, or one mile for
SAB persons, and at the beginning of the year
the proportion was one mile for 573 persons.
The transfer of population to the far West
docs indeed make more business for rail-
roads tlelt, Dul II HpANoH'iA1 ~ No
less traffic for railroads Ill the Older
States from which the population Is
moved. New roads, in very many cases,
have been constructed mainly for the purpose
of competing with older roads already in
operation. If their traffic is partly diverted
the new roads may prosper, but at the ex-
pense of diminished earnings and profits on
captal previously invested. Directly and IN
directly 1t Is probable that more than
5000 600, 900 in cash has been planted in the
earth during the year 1850 10y the
building of railroads. for the average
cost Of roads, equipments, stations
and other attendant improvements has
probably been moro than $4,000 per mile
The country cannot go on very long cxpcnd-
ing money at that rate In the building of rail-
roads, and yet The Gazette gives reason for the
belief that we shall probably build more
railroad in 1881 than ever before in single
year. That journal wisely gives warning that
a sudden decrease in the annual mileage built
must come before long, though IA yet there is
not the slightest sign of it..
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DECLINE or ORR MERCHANT MARINE