The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-29

tucky with S5l, Washington Territory with
309 and Alabama with 30i. Taken as a
whole, the South has shown more activity
compared with the North than ever before.
The only very long line built during the
past year was the extension OF the Chi
cago, Kansas 4 Nebraska division OF the
Rock Island system TO Colorado Springs,
20S miles in length. Most ol the grading
OF this line was done this season, but on a
very large proportion OF the longer lines
built during the year much OF the grading
was done in 1887. This in part accounts
for the amount OF construction for the
year. Plans made and partly carried out
during the previous year had TO be carried
through to avoid loss.
A noticeable difference between the ox.
tensions Of 1883 and those OF the two pro-
ceding years is that very few OF the former
are important MS competitive lines, while
in 1856 and 1887 the great feature OF the
work was the construction OF lines TO COM
pete for the traffic between Chicago aud
the two ccnicrs, Kansas City aud st, Paul,
Us well as the new competing route for the
trunk line traffic via the Sault Ste. Marie.
Many Of the extensions Of 1883 compete,
indeed, with older lines but the compoti-
ton is OF only local importance, and in
general, II is local development rather than
competition which has been the spur TO
railway building during the past year,
A great contrast between 1883 aud the
two preceding years IL seen in the owner
ship of the extensions. Tho twcnty-sx
companies that built 0,0Gl miles in 1857,
or nearly - per cent. Of tho whole milo.
age, built only 2,hlS miles this year, or
only ~ per cent OF the whole. The cur
rent belief that the interstate commerce
law tends 10 force the local roads 10 con.
solidato with the great system Is hardly
corrobortcd 10y the large number OF lotal
lines built In 1883. II seems, indeed, open
10 question whether the law, while II
tcnds 10 force the consolidation oi COM
poting lines does not handicap the great
systems which arc seriously affected hv
competition aud leave almost untouched
the small local roads which, In their lin.
tied field, are monarchs OF all they survey.
OF the work which has been done by
the great systems the extensions OF the
Rock Island are most noticeable. Ii has
built this year 302 miles. The Santa fc,
which built the enormous amount Of 30
miles last year. has the modest record this
Nftl w WHY lHt NlAN'Nf NlllN " NAAAll " w
last years record. Oi the other Chicago
systems the Northwestern has built l2O
miles; tho burlington, lO2 miles, the
Illinois Central. ~, aud the Chicago, Mil.
wnukoc X ~. Paul, which has suffered
badly from both the rate wars and the
short wheat crop, only i've miles.
The st. Paul, Minneapolis a Manitoba
road has built 3l2 miles; the Northern
Pacific eighty miles, aud the Southern
Pacific 231 miles. In the East the most
prominent line Is the Canadian Pacific
extension toward It's future terminus Ia
the province OF New Brunswick.
The fact that no new mileage has been
built In Iowa during the past year Is a
significant one. The anli-milvay lcgisla-
iion, which has been so fashionable in d
few States Of the Northwest, aud In which
Iowa has taken the lead, has, OF course
resulted In q sharp check 20 investment.
In new miIway property la those sIalcs