The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-07-21
RAILROAD PROGRESS In 1881.
An Increase of 11.142 Miles, Making
the Total in the United States at the
END of 1881, 1O4,S13.

End of 1881, 1O4,S13.
From the forthcoming volume of "Poor's
Railroad Manual of the United States which
has come to be acknowledged as an authority
on such statistics, the following synopsis of its
predatory statement of the general facts Of
railroad progress in the United States during
the year 1881 is made:
The year 1881 has been one Of extraordinary
activity in railroad affairs. Within the year
1855 miles of railroad have been built, the
greatest number for any one year. The great
est mileage for any previous year was 1879
miles, in 1871. The total milesin operation at
the end of 1881 was 104, 1913, being an increase
of II, 142 miles over the previous year.
The cost, at $4,000 per mile, of the lines
constructed during the year was $233, 100000.
In addition, at least $75, 000 900 were expended
on lines in progress and 500, 900 000 which is
at the rate of only $1,000 per mile, on old
roads, in improving their tracks, in building
new stations, and in adding to their equipments
The total amount expended in construction
during the past year was, in round NUMBERS,
$400, 100000.
1t now seems probable that the mileage to be
opened in 1882 will equal that for 1881. Up to
the LIST of June, 1882 3,677 miles of line were
opened, against 1,734 for the same period in
1881. The same rate of incrs ase will not be
maintained for the remainder of the year. but
the aggregate for it of new mileage is not likely
to be much short of 10, 1000 miles.
The earnings of all the roads IN operation in
the country the past year equaled $725, 1876, 119,
being an increase over the previous year of
$110, 100000, the rate of increase being nearly
16 per cent. The earnings equaIed 1880 per
head of our population Their net earnings
were 4276, 654, 119, an increase of 1924, 500, 900
hose Uihoi,,
$449, 565071. The amount of interest paid
during the year on their funded debts was $685.
7,002; the amount paid in dividends was
&93 342, 200, against $77, 49, Ali for 1880.
The cost of operating our railroads for the
year was $449 SEE, OIL, or 90 per cent. of their
gross earnings The total amount expended
in their construction of new lines and in oper-
atlng and improving the old ones was over
$3.50, 000 Goethe greater part of this vast sum
being paid in wages. The number of persons
employed in operating them the past year aver
aged fully twelve to the mile of operated line,
or 100000 in ALL The number employed in
the construction of our railroads equaled AGO.
600, increasing the total number of employees to
100000, or about one-thirty-second part Of
our population. estimated at SO, 100000
The tonnage transported on all the railroads
than {, 500 tons TO the mile, or $50, 000 600 TONS
At an assumed value of $50 per ton, the value
of the tonnage moved on all the railroads of
the United States the past year, less one-third
for duplication, was, say, $12,000,0 100000 or
mora than 5000 per head OF the whole popula-
ton.
The gross earnings for the New England
States were $50, $685. $685. against 48 755, 500 for
1880, $41, 329 1926 for 1879, and Sal 800, 203 for
1878. OF these earnings $91, 1924, 145 were re-
ceived for transportation of freight, mails, etc.
and $40, 1856, 664 for the transportation of pas
sengers. The net earnings were $15916, 1913,
against $17, 1913 ,685 for 1880, 1886, O91 for
1879, and ST., $685. 927 for 1878. The dividends
paid amounted to So, 1893, 030 against 81. 999 1871
'or 1880, $780, 203 for 1879, and 81, 566, 655
for 1878.
The gross earnings of the railroads in the
Middle States were 1928, 1893, 22l against $780,
O03, 713 for 1880, $170, $40, 846 for 1879, and
$155, 458, 963 for 1878. OF gross earnings,
$176, 7S0 223 were received fortransportation Of
freight, mails, etc, and s 1,6l7, 996 for trans
portatlon Of passengers. The net earnings were
1884, 1862, 704, against $83, 923 1913 for 1889, $70,
416, $40 for 1878, and SOL 559, 1913 for 1873 The
dividends paid amounted to $3.50, 315. 581,
against $28 479, 1911 for 1880, 1911, 1874 for 1879,
and 1921, 148, 422 for 1878.
The gross earnings reported on the railroads
in the Southern States were $685. 737, 087, against
$48,317, 754 for $780, $43, 81, 2S4 for 1879, and
$42 797, 284 for 1878. The net earnings were
1922, 24u, $685. against $18, 1874 034 for 1880, $14,
673,3 for 1879, and $14,379,9 58 for 1878.
The dividends paid amounted to SO, sos, 1863,
against 49, 525 977 for 1880, 49, 131, ITO for 1879,
and So, 805, 799 for 1873 The earnings from
freight, mails, ETC., were $49, $50, 755, and from
passengers S13, 1861 1872.
The gross earnings OF the railroads Of the
Western States were $344, 1893, $685. against
1920, $50, 100 for 1889, 1892, 379, 646 for 1879,
81 1852, 275 for 1878. he net earnings were
$134, 756,393, against 1925, 166, 21S for 1880,
$98 961, 9O6 for 1879, and 1883, 229 for 1878.
The dividends paid amounted to $40, 234, S29,
against $685. III, $50 for 1880, $23, 561, 1862 for
1879, and $19, 341 ,222 for 1878. The earnings
from freight. mails, etc., were $268, 400, 5S2, and
from passengers $75.973.274.
The earnings of the railroads in the Pacific
States, including the Central Pacific and its
leased lines, amounted to $35, 915 1876, against
$28, 1856, $50 for $780, e26, Al 2O6 for 1879, and
$26 881, 007 for 1878. OF this sum $11, 022, 374
was derived from passengers, and 1924, 892, 822
from transportation of freight, mails, ETC. The
net earnings we're $1S, ,O66, against $1O.-
7S6, LOG in 1880; dividends, 81, 787, 491, against
$3, 992. 1852 IN 1880.