National Republican., 1883-05-18
ITALIAN RAILWAYS.
Some Interesting Facts In Regard 20
Their Cost and Management Furnished
by Our Consul nj NapIes.

Some Interesting Facts In Regard 20
Their Cost and Management Furnished
by Our Consul Mt Naples.
B. o. Duncan, United States consul az Ma
pies, has sent to the State department the fol-
Italian railways;
Up to Jan. 1, 1881, there were only e,715
kilometers (5;412 miles) Of completed railway
in all Italy. OF these, nearly half were in
north Italy, on territory containing about
100000 Inhabitants, while the remainder
we're scattered over central and southern
Italy, over much larger territory, contain
ing 20,000,000 inhabitants IL appears from
this how inadequately, especially this latter
portion of Italy, was supplied with means Of
communication.
After long discussion, and many changes
and additions, to satisfy the different local
interests, in 1880 sort of omnibus railway
bill passed parliament, providing for tho
building Of about 5000 kilometors more rail-
way In different parts of the kingdom. A
large proportion of these were located in cen-
trail and southern Italy and Sicily, aud when
they are all finished the Italian network of
railways will be pretty complete. In this
network are not included either the projected
roads on the island of Sardinia, or more di.
rect line between Naples and Rome.
This latter it is intended to build along tho
NUdoNt VIA bibbu uuu ltIIHClnu, WIN urgency,
thus shortening tho distance nearly one
third, and the time nearly one-half between
these two principal cities. But when all
these contemplated roads are complete, there
will still be less than 10000 kilometers Of
railway in Italy for a population Of 20,000,-
900, and an area Of over 206,000 square kilo.
meters-a smaller proportion than any other
country Of central or western Europe except
Spain and Portugal
Railway building in Italy Is exceedingly
costly as compared with what IL Is in some
other countries, our own for instance. The
average cost of construction of the Italian
railways is little over 100000 lire per kilo-
meteor, or about $4,000 per mile, while. ac-
cording to Poors Railway Manual for 1882,
the 10000 miles Of railway constructed in the
United States during 1881 cost $3.50, 100000,
or only $4,000 per mile. The estimated
cost of some Of the projected roads amounts to
nearly 100000 lire per xilometer, and tho
longest line of all, 521 kilometers, between
Eboli and Reggie, opposite Messina, will cost
to construct 211, 100000 lire, or over 400, 900
lire per kilometer. This greater cost is, of
course, explained In part by the difficult,
mountainous character OF large portion of
the country, in part by the greater solidity of
the roads built, and no doubt in great part
because they are built at public expense in
stead Of by private enterprise.
The capital for building Italian roads is OBJ.
tanned by government guarantee of bonds
at to per cent, so that rs the net average
profit Of these roads amounts to only about 2
per cent, the remainder, 3 to per cont. has
to bo paid out of the public treasury. From
this IL will appear how impossible IL would be
to get capital to construct tho railways by
private enterprise. The cost of Italian roads
completed Jan. 1, 1881, amounted to 2,616 737,-
70i lire, or about $500, 100000. The total
gross income for 1880 was $50, ,106,S1S lire, or
about $36,000,000, while the running expenses
amounted to 122, 1862, ,S62 lire, or neorly per
cont on cost of construction, leaving only
100000 lire, or about 2 per cent, as the net
income. From a statement before me it APP
pears that the average.net income of Ameri-
can roads is slightly over a per cent. aud OF
English about Al per cent.
During the year 1880 the Italian road,
transported 80, 49l, 1897 travellers, as follows.
rlIst chSs' l,lb4,Dbo
second class 6,60i,446
Ihlrd class...s. ID, ,ei1 sos
al fnr N,fs 'an0