Helena weekly herald., 1888-09-13
RAILROAD BUILDING.

The receipt of the Introduction to
Poor's Manual of Railroads in the United
States for 1888" gives occasion to speak of
the mighty growth of our railroad system,
compared with which ocean commerce be-
comes a secondary matter for the present.
No one, however, can study this great
work as it is now going on in this country
without reaching the conclusion that the
natural and necessary result must be ulti-
mately to call for correspond
ing increase of ocean commerce. The
tendency continually is to consolidate
local with trunk lines and Ito extend these
to the sea coast. This is illustrated in the
case of many lines that might be named,
beginning and ending at first in the heart
of the country and gradually extending
both ways till they have become transcon-
tinental roads in the fullest sense of the
term. The next step will be, after COM
pleting the network of branches, which is
now going on, for these transcontinental
lines to become transOce2nic, having
regular steamship lines running in connec-
ton Herewith, ticketing passengers and
checking their baggage to any part of the
world. Aud from Behring's Straits and Hud-
son Bay there will be continuous line by
way of the Isthmus to Cape Horn.
The strides by which this grand result
is to be reached are taking place before
our eyes with almost bewildering rapidity
In 1882 there were built in
this country 1858 miles of railroad,
Such an unprecedented work was by many
believed to be an expansion to the verge of
final collapse. It was said that it would
take century for the country to grow up
to a support of the roads already con-
structed. Construction fell away rapidly
till in 1885, but little over 3 900 miles of new
road were built. Here the decline ceased
again and 1886 saw the mileage run up to
9OOO and last year the former record of
1882 was broken and the total run up
to 10000. No one thought possible
that the record of 1882 would be broken
before the end of the century, but it was
in only five years, and now there is little
question that the record will be broken
many times in the next twelve years.
Such are the improved methods of rail-
road construction, that better roads are
built for less money and in less time
every, year and there is no reason to think
that the limit of invention has been reach
ed. In less time than the old methods
have become absolute, those now in use
will disappear. Montana was the witness
and scene last year of the greatest feat
of railroad construction that the world has
ever seen, but no one is cons srvative enough
to think that this record will not be broken
many times in the next tea years
1t takes railroads to build railroads, and
we have developed railroad building pro-
fession with enough skill and confidence to
undertake anything, even to tunneling
under continent or an ocean. If a con-
tract were advertised for a road from
Behring Straits to Cape Horn, it would not
be q month before bids were handed in by
responsible parties offering to complete the
job inside of ten years, probably in half
that time.
Montana was the last of all the states
and territories to be visited by railroad
but by the end of 1887 she had 1850 miles
of completed railroads within her limits.
Those last to be opened enjoy the benefit
of the most improved and cheapest con-
struction So late as 1850 the idea of
building railroad across the Rocky Noun
tains to the Pacific was ridiculed as an in
sane delusion in our Congress. Now we
have half dozen, and there will probably
be twenty before 1900.
Such has been the progress of events and
the enlargement of our ideas that our
people are incapable of Judging fairly of the
labor, cost and energy required in 1862 to
undertake the work of constructing trans
continental road.
The pamphlet before us gives tables
showing that the net earnings of our rail-
roads last year were 1884 ,9s9119. This
was more than the net earnings of all the
ships of all the nations that 60 down to
do business on the great waters. Though
our ocean tonnage has declined, we have
not been idle; we have chosen the better
part; we have created and de-
velOped wealth at a rate and in
amount that beggars description and
palsies comprehension, wealth beyond
reach of seizure or destruction by any foes.
There is not probably square inch of sur
face in the United States to-day but has
some appreciable value, not the most waste
portion of sandy beach or plain, rugged or
rocky mountain, or bottomless, pestilential
swamp.
Railroads have done this and their work
is only faily begun. Who is bold enough
in imagination to attempt to picture the
end?
"Mr. Word, in a vigorous speech, stated