The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-07-01
ABOUT RAILROADS.
Some Thoughts on the Cost and Method
OF Requirement.


Some Thoughts on the Cost and Method
OF Requirement.
The actual cost OF railway varies.
on each different kind of railway.
While a mile of steel rails only
cost with their tics from $3, 900 to
81 900, for single track railway
tunnel or n long bridge will cost from
$l50 600 to 5000 900 per mile.
As there are many miles OF track
without any long bridge or tunnel, the
average cost por mile OF track Is very
little increased by the few tunnels
and bridges that exist states a. writer
in tho Weekly Teller
There are about 40. 900 miles OF
railway In operation In America but
there probably are not ITO miles OF
tunnels on American railway s. there-
fore tho tunnels would not amount to
one mile OF tunnel To | 1000 miles OF
track and thus the average cost OF
tunnels TO tho milo OF track would
not add $3.50 to the cost OF an average
milo OF railway In those United Statea
When every item Is included the COST
OF building all our railways to day by
the national government would not
amount to more than from ~. 900 TO
$40, 900 per mile OF single track on
tho different kinds OF railway and the
average cost would probably be less
than $7 900 per mile.
The Mexican Central railway from
I'll Paso, Texas 10 the City OF Mexico,
about j. 200 miles long was tho latest
long line constructed. II was built
through mountain country and un-
der unusual expense and difficulties
and only cost about 5000 per mile to
build.
The government can build rail-
way for less expense than corpora
ton, for many reasons, among which
arc
Flrst-Tho government bonds are
worth more than the bonds or shares
OF any company That 10 TO say the
government Gun borrow money for
less interest than any company. and
this can save half or more than half
tho amounts paid for interest
Secon1--The government would
not have to pay SO largo an amount
OF the expenses to help the Demo
cratic and Republican partiee save
the country every few years during
political campaigns as the corpora.
ti0ns now have to do.
Third-The government would not
have to help so many great patriots
get elected TO oflco as the railwa,
companies now have to do.
Although the cost OF labor iron,
wood and all the materials which are
needed In railway construction have
been constantly decreasing in price
for many years yet II Is curious
! paradox that IL costs our companies
every year more and moro to build
and operate railways While the
necessary cost Is only about ga. 900
per mile 1t Is now costing our compa-
uies about 800 000 per mile TO build
railways. One reason for this IS that
our companies every year have to
purchase more patriots to the mile
than was necessary before and those
patriots ask more every year for keep.
ing their mouths shut and working
for the companies against the people
and thus the expense account Tor pa
triots annually grows larger because
patriots who will work for compa
mics very properly come high.
Formerly the companies only needed
a few patriots In congress and tho
legislatures but as the sentiment
grows among the people In favor OF
] national purchase and operation OF
railways the companies find they
have to seek for and purchase patriots
In lodges OF various societies and la
many government positions OF various
kinds TO try TO hold tho people back
from taking and operating their pub
lie highways
Thus the cost OF patriots help to
swell tho cost OF railways from 81, 900
to S5G 900 per mile for patriots to
help them to construct railways in
1892 in these United States In addi-
ton the companies pay large
amount to patriots to help them ope-
rate the railways after they are COM
pleted, but that can be explained IN
another letter better as this one "
already too long