The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-04
IMPORTANT STATISTICS
COMPARISONS BETWEEN AMERICAN
AND ENGLISH RAILWAYS.
Loaded Car Movement of OctOber-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, 49, SCI
miles. There is more than six times as
much railroad mileage, therefore. in this
country as there is in Great Britain, and
the population of the United States, 1t
ought perhaps to be added, is more than
double the population Of Great Britain.
Americans, ii is well known, are greater
travellers than English people and have
larger means for such purposes. Yet. not
withstanding these advantages, II is a fact
that the railroads of Great Britain. with
smaller mileage and a 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 a year the
number of passengers carried in the
United States is 543, 900. 600, the number
carried In Great Britain Tor the same
period was 929. 000. 600. 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 particu-
,ariy SO since the receipts of American
railroads were ephemerally and abnormal
ly swollen by the business Of the worlds
fair. But at the highest point the num-
Der Of passengers carried on American
railroads was 60O, 600, 900. or less than two
thirds of the number OF passengers car
as many locomotives in use on American
railroads as 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
lean railroads is twice as 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 was 743, 000. 900. The year previous
of goods or freight in Great Britain in a
year is 200, OO0, 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 op-
tanned. labor is cheaper, and, moreover.
British railroads connect well-estabiisned
structed on the tentative American plan
under which districts grow up about a rail-
road. Many new lines, extensions, spurs
ard connections of American roa1s are put
up 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.
lean railroads is far in excess of that done
by British railroads. though in respect TO
the number of passengers carried TIE ran
roads of the United States are very far De-