The sun., 1893-10-01
THE FUTURE OF RAILROADS..


Enormou. development SIN to Come.
To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sr: The
opinion has been expressed by some writer's
that the limit OF railway construction in this
country has been nearly reached. A careful
investigation Of the distribution Of railway
mileage would, on the contrary. indicate that
It will be at least doubled within the compara-
lively near future.
The States OF Massachusetts, and New Jer-
soy already have one mile OF railway to four
miles OF area Neither OF them has a high
percentage Of good agricultural lands, neither
has extensive mining interests. nor does
either Of them produce any considerable per-
centage Of the raw material consumed in its
extensive Industrial establishments: neither
OF them compares in natural resources with
many OF our trans Mississippi States which
have very limited railway mileage. nor has
either of them reached the limit OF railway
construction within its borders.
Pennsylvania Ohio. and Illinois have one
mile OF railway to five miles Of area. while New
York and Indiana have one to six-making for
the seven central States an average Of one mile
to five. Minnesota has one mile to fifteen. the
two Dakotas have one to thirty-two. Kansas
has ono to nine. Nebraska has one to four
teen. tho two Virginias have one to fourteen.
ara Alabama and Georgia one to thirteen
Tho whole country ucaving Alaska out OF the
calculation). has one to seventeen. The natural
resources and industrial possibilities Of the
two VirGinias arc quite equal to the average Of
the seven central States named above. which
now have one mile OF railway to Ave miles OF
area. The same Is true OF Georgia and Ala
bama. To give these four States one milo
OF railway to five OF area will require the
construction OF 23.200 miles OF additional
roads. To increase the railway mileage OF
Minnesota and the two Oak to one mile to
nine, the same as that of Kansas. requires the
construction Of 10000 miles, That one to nine
Is not high percentage Of railway mileage to
area for these three States is proven by the
fact that Wisconsin already has it. although
she is bounded upon the east by Lake Mich-
gan. and has water communication to tidewR-
ter for the shipment OF her surplus products to
market. To Increase the railway mileage OF
these three rich agricultural States to one to
fve will demand an addition OF $4,000
miles. The great state OF Texas. rich
almost beyond calculation In tho ad-
vantaGes Of fertile soil. healthfu climate. and
variety Of her productions. lying upon the Gulf
OF Mexico In close proximity to the Nicaragua
Canal when completed. with the markets of
the eastern as well as the western coast OF
South America at her very DOORS and with un-
limited advantages and possibilities for indus
trial development. has only one mile Of rail
way to thirty miles OF area. To increase it to
one to nine requires tho building OF u 900
miles. and to raise the ratio to one to 1ye 45-
600 miles.
California. with its wonderful mineral and
marvellous agricultural resources. its un-
eaualled possibilities for fruit culture. its
charming and healthful climate. and It's COM
mandng position upon the Pacific. has only
one mile OF railway to thirty-Hve miles OF area
StnN1 t,t tlN.I IF.tz.
to Ave. when It's industrial possibilities are
fully developed. it is California. To increase
its railway mileage to one to nine com pels the
addition OF $4,000 miles and to increase 1t to
one to five requires 2l.OOO miles.
Oregon and Washington. also possessing
immense wealth in their agricultural lands.
mines. forests. fisheries. genial ana healthful
Pacific coast for commanding its trade. with
no loss than sx transcontinental rail way lines.
including the Canadian Pacific, giving them
direct communication with all rarts OF the
continent have only one p mile Of railway to
nine rsauires 1900 miles to inerease , one IL to to
ono to Ave. 29.O0o miles. No one familiar with
the aEriIfHit4Fa ar sommereia and ipdus,rial
they are greater all things considered, than
Kansas or Wisconsin. Kansas and Wisconsin
their raj way mileage to one to Ave OF area
New Hampshire and Vermont have one mile
SOURCES are limited, their climate severe. They
produce very little OF the raw material con-
humeu ny thelr Manufacturing INDUSTRIES
They are not in a position to secure any large
percentage OF our transcontinental traffio
through their territory and yet they have a
high percentage OF railway mileage to area.
Leaving out OF the account Alaska, the United
states has 3OOO.OOu square miles OF territory
and l75.OOO mil les OF railways. or ono mile to
requires the building Of 15s.G0O miles.
600 miles, which with the present mile
900 miles. The States which have the
highest D6rCantapA of rail lway IN IN
have the greatest accumulated wealth per
capita the largest population por square mile
AMI the greatest Industrial development The
construction OF railways invites ard secures
population. The incoming OF population slim
ulates the construct on OF additions Al railways.
Railways and population insure tho develop
ment OF the natural resources OF tho terri
tory occupied, and encourage the promo
tion of Industrial institutions; railways
are bsneAeent in the results which they
secure TO humanity. The greater the
general Intelligence, the greater the ne
oessity for them and the more helpful they
become; They promote the dissemination Of
knowledge and general Intelligence, They are
pu biic educators. They unite and bind tog ether
Ali sections OF the nation by creating common
commercial interest anon all the. parts They
precede. encourage, and insure development,
And development insures their increase. imam
cial success, and usefulness To secure the
development Of the resources OF our Southern
and trans Mississippi States to tho same
extent as has been accomplished In the
SaTen Eastern and central States above re-