The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-12
RAILROAD PROGRESS IN 1891
Interesting Statistical Report or the inter.
State Commerce Commission.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 11.-The fourth statistical
report OF the Inter State Commerce Commits.
sion. prepared by its statistician. Mr.. Case,
gives complete epitome OF railroad progress
In the United States for the period covered
Hallway mileage In the United States on June
80. 1901 mot counting double tracks, was 1885,
402.1 "a miles. Connecticut had to every one
hundred square miles OF territory over twenty
miles OF track: Delaware. IL miles: Illinois.
10: Iowa. 10: Massachusetts,. %; New Jersey.
27 New York. IL: Ohio. ~. and Pennsyl-
rania. ~ miles. The only countries in
Europs which have m excess OF ten
miles per 100 square miles OF territory are
Germany with Il miles. Great Britain with
10 miles. France with ! l miles. Belgium with
% miles. Holland with ~ miles. and Swtzer-
land with l. miles. No country in Europe
Sweden alone excepted, has ten miles OF line
per 10000 Inhabitants while in this country
only two States have less.
The increase in railway mileage during the
year was 4,S05 miles. This is less than the
average for several years past. The greatest
activity in railway building seems to have
been in the States lying south Of tho Ohio and
east OF the Mississippi. There we're 1.7S5
railway corporations. of which $50 were indie
pendent companies for tho purpose OF opera
ton. and 747 were subsidiary companies, the
TeWhlnueT UelHs pllNalc lneEe were a.
companies each Of which controlled n mileage
in excess OF 1000 miles. and nearly ono half
Of the mileage OF tho country is the property
OF these ~ companies.
The total number o, locomotives used by the
railways was 81. l3o. shuwiu. AN increase OF
1850 during the year. and the total nun Der OF
cars. the property OF railways. was l.2l5.Gl1.
Tho mum Der of men employed on railways
,hs t hanS S4'ss as III es was
tnnf tn nd Sfr hnc In
creased the ei,lcicncy Of labor is shown by the
fact that every engineer engineer dnr;ns the year has
one lie ana 2.SiiG39 tons Of freight ono
mile.
teal s ssst %as e t9S Esway q
n oas s sHeal % mile neiif ns
from /" ISIS .'I e few sesre
that the leasing ii equipment BY rail way com.
Is not supported BY the facts.
the rns sanHs. Gne or s dp Rsf
ri! mile s q lines QPerating eSrcnfiGs were s5sl
Ss ne from erpsra ms OF Gf saSns
s.. 263 per mile OF line. The net income per |
e. I ,sl as was yss Il ss than the net
nj The number e carried during
Of miles run by passenger trains was 3OIU27.-
92a and tho number OF miles run by freight
trains 44B214 5OS The average Journey rer
passenger was 24.lS miles. and the average
haul per ton Of freight was 100 miles. The |
average number of passengers in a train was
~, and the average number OF tons of freight
in q train was ISL The average revenue per
passenger per mile was 2.142 cents. and the
average revenue per ton per mile was .sl5
passenger trains. was Sl.OS. and tho average
asevenue per train mile. freight trains. was
The report shows that casualties during the
year were greater than in any previous year
covered w, reports to tho commission. Tho
number killed during tho year was 900. and
tho number injured was :taSSl. or those |
totals. the number OF employees killed was
S'DO. and the number injured was d. 40. |
The number OF passengers killed was 2.,3 and
the mum Der nJured 2.H12.
, Tho report emphasizes the necessity OF |
legislation compelling railways to ABORT train
brakes and automatic couplers, and also sug-
gests that some steps be taken. be ides the |
frequency of casualties from falling from
trains und engines. The large number Of
killed and injured from collisions also brings
prominently into notice the necessity of some
extensive use of the block system In tho
handling OF trains and a more perfect app!i-
hility in the case OF accident An investica-
ton into the matter Of handling trains is
recommended
1t is recommended that express companies
traffic be required to make reports to the
Interstate Commerce Commission similar to
those now made by railways. and that persons.
companies; or corporations owning rolling
stock used in Interstate traffic should be
obliged to make annual reports as far as may
be necessary for a complete statement Of the |
Kind OF rolling stock used by railways-