The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-04
IMPORTANT STATISTICS
COMPARISONS BETWEEN AMERICAN
AND ENGLISH RAILWAYS.
Loaded Car Movement of OctObcr-An-
other Withdrawal from Inter-
changeable Mileage Agreement.

An expert statistician has made up the
following statement showing comparisons
of the railroad business of the two English
speaking nations. which may be of interest
The statement shows the railway mileage
of the roads of the two countries, the
equipments of their lines and many other
points which will bear careful study. The
total length of railroads in Great Britain
is 21,214 miles. In the United States it is
or was at the last computation. 119, S1
miles. There is more than six times as
much railroad mileage, therefore. in this
country there is i'm Great Britain, and
the population of the United States. it
ought perhaps to be added, is more than
double the population of Great Britain.
Americans, it is We'll known, are greater
travellers than English people and have
larger means for such purposes. Yet, not
withstanding these advantages, 1t is n fact
that the railroads of Great Britain, with
smaller mileage and smaller territory TO
draw from; do considerably more pas senger
business than the railroads of the United
States combined.
Comparing the figures at hand from
Great Britain with those last at hand from
the railroads of this country it is seen in
the first place that while in q year the
number of passengers carried i'm the
United States is 100000, the number
carried in Great Britain Tor the same
period 500 900. 900. 1t is true that there
has been. during the last two years, a
decline of passenger traffic on the rail-
roads of the United States and partcu-
larry SO since the receipts of American
railroads were ephemerally and abnormal
ly swollen by the business CT the worlds
fair But at the highest point the num-
Der of passengers carried on American
railroads was $4,000 900. or less than two
thirds of the number of passengers car
ried on British railroads. There are twice
as many locomotives in use on American
railroads there are on British railroads,
but this disparity in the United States Is
explained by the fact that American loco
motives draw chiefly freight trains. or. as
they are called in England goods trains.
The freight or goods business of Amer
iC an railroads is twice good as the bust
ness of British railroads in the same line.
In the last year computed the total num-
Der of tons of freight moved on American
railroads WIS 143 600 The year previous
Il was 700, Az 900. The average movement
of goods or freight in Great Britain III a
year is 200. 000, 900, or less than one-third.
British railroads. as a rule, are much
more substantially constructed than are
American railroads. The geographical OBJ
stacles are less. capital is more readily OBJ
tanned, labor is cheaper, and, moreover.
British railroads connect Weli-eStaDllshed
districts or cities instead OF being con-
structed on the tentative American plan
under which districts grow up about rail-
road Many new lines, extensions, spurs
ard connections of American roads are put
I'D with no reasonable expectation OF I'M
mediate return, and these, while adding TO
the railroad mileage of the country, IN
crease but slightly its earning capacity.
Nevertheless the business done by Amer
lean railroads is far in excess of that done
by British railroads. though in respect 10
the number of passengers carried the rat
roads of the United States are very 1ar De-