The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-01-16
Railroad Construction.

No large railroad has been construct
ed III the United States during the wear
just c.Osed. Nor has the mileage been
up to the average of the past ten wears.
HE total length of track in ali the
States added in 1891 is 416S miles,
against 5139 in 1890 and 1888 III 1887.
HE WORK OF construction has been
chiefly IN the making Of short eSten-
slons and branches to the old roads.
Various causes have been assigned
for what seems to be u decline in our
railroad building. Among others. the
tina lclal stringency III 1890, which
though principally limited to Euro
petn cities, Yet was felt here 10 valiuus
Mays. \ pretty large amount of our
securities which had been held abroad
as investments were sent home Tor
sale, as there was less decline in taem
than in most of the European stocks
and bonds. They fell enough to at
tract the attention of American buy-
ers. who Know where to finl money
when they have a chance to buy pro-
perry cheap. However, so much
money was absorbed in taking care Of
our " securities that the market was
not favorable tor tie floating of new
railway enterprises.
In addition to ;nese and other caus-
Is, 1876 was Il year of great activity
among the Farmers Alliances. One OF
the Issues pressed upon the people by
then agiiatols was Il larger control of
the railroads IN the supposed interests
OF the people. This meant hostile
legislation and local interference which
railroad owners would regard as but
little sllortof contiscatiou. They conld
set no better reason for the creation
OF a commission Of Granger politicians
70 meddIe III the affairs of the roads
than for u commission of railroadmen
to dictate as to the management OF
farm property. Yet the agitation dis
conraged the railway '.promoters,'
and they have bteu limited to patch
work and slight improvements to es-
tablished tracks.
II - quite likely that none or all the
reasons that have been assigned are
conclusive. The country already has
lil.OOO miles of railway, aud the az
Sr6s"tt lHclGdes many thousand miles
OF parallel and hence competing lines.
One can choose any of half a dozen
great routes III going from one princi-
pal city to another. while the grain
growers Of the Northwest have ali the
great routes competing for their bust
ness, and yet orOAl and grumble he
cause they n not have the service
for next 70 nothing. We have pushed
railway building since the war ahead
Ct the increase in population.
Congress has been too liberal in its
land grants 10 roads, deceived or mis-
LED, 10 doubt, by the lobby. \ good
Dial "f land has been taken in this
way ana held, though no road was
butt. IHe.e is very little pubic land
left that can be voted away TO en-
courage railroad bailding. Thus the
most profitable part OF the business is
gone, and 1t will hereafter be controi-
led by the demand. At present there
are road ENOUGH, or as many as the
business Of. the country can fairly
support. HE great trunk lines oggLf
TO Keep U? the policy Of spur tracks
and extensions, and for the pIese.+
give tile country time to catch ~.
Now IS the favorable timel Ion. look
ed for, to pay more attention to ship
building. Congress has taken some
initial steps. such as ordering new YES
sells for the Navy and voting subsidy