The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-06

The Halliday Age prints the results Of
the first half of 1892 in railway building
1t says: THE past six months have been
unfavorable for railway construction,
owing to the excessive rains which have
prevailed in many party Of the country,
and the work which has actually been ac-
complished is hardly fair indication of
what may be expected in the way of rail-
way extensions during 1892. The previous
year showed the smallest aggregate of
Jracklaying-4 200 milas-that has been re-
ported in this country since 1885,
and there has been no reason to
expect any great change for 1892.
Financial conditions have not
been favorable to the Inauguration of large
railway enterprises, nor is there much coca
sion for adding to the number of trunk
lines at present, although there are vast
areas in this country which will eventually
demand great railways. But, on the other
hand, the existing railways are constantly
being invited to build short branches and
extensions, and the work now in progress IS
largely OF this character. From the returns
now received at this Office, collected with
unusual care and thOroughness, we find
that during the six months from Jan. l to
July l there have been laid In the United
States 1866 miles Of new main track on Us
lines in 50 of the states and territories.
Last year at this time we found that 1,73S
lnlles Oh VThCR udU been l6lO, 80 that IL
would appear that there has thus far been
falling off Of over rs per cent compared
with the same period of 1891. We can
enumerate extensions aggregating over
2,SO0 miles which show good prospect of
completion before the end of the year, SO
that we feel safe in estimating that the
tracklaying for 1892 will not fall short of
1000 miles, and may equal the total for
1891. In comparison with the few years of
railroad buildipy Iui ~,
when nearly 1900 miles were added, and
1882 when about l 900 miles were built,
an addition OF 1900 miles seems small
aud yet looking over the railway
history of the country it will be
found that this is really very good
average, as in many years the total fell
much below this Thus in 1885 we added
2.7l2, 1875 l, I'll, 1874 2,1l7. 1866 1,116, 1865
1,177. 1854 73S. 1868 ], $50, 1862 S34, 1861 $780,
In the years OF the greatest construction a
large amount Of unnecessary or premature
building was done. Now the work that is
going on is that Of legitimate development,
and the large number of lines in progress
shows that railway building nowadays is
not that Of great competing roads. The
average for the past six months is less than
twelve miles 70 each road named. The
work OF construction has been very widely
distributed having gone on in thirty live
states and territories Notwithstanding the
unfavora5le weather The portions Of the
country in which no track appears to have
thus far been laid this year are Vermont,
! Connecticut, Rhode Island Delaware, Vlr-
ginis, Mississippi, Wisconsin, North Da-
kota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nevada, New
Mexico, Arizona-thirteen states and terri
tories. In respect to mileage laid during
the six months New Y ork comes first with
! 1852 miles. while Montana is second with
1878 miles, owing to the extension of
the Great Northern line toward the
| Pacific. The states showing the next larg-
est mileage in their order are West Vir-
ginia, Michigan. Idaho, Florida. Indian
| Territory, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washing
ton and 80 on. In respect to number Of
lines Pennsylvania leads, showing track
laid on no less than 10 short extensions,
while our records euumerate 1l2 different
projects which have been mentioned thus
| tar this year in that state alone. In Michi-
gan track has been laid on 10 new lines,
and 80 or more altogether are on the list of
that state Ohio has extended 8 lines aud
has over so enterprises in view, while in
Texas lines have been extended and our
records show nearly 20 projects"