The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-25
IN THE RAILROAD WORLD.
Matters of Interest to Savannah and |
Elsewhere.

Matters of Interest to Savannah and
Elsewhere.
An interesting contribution to the rail-
road handbook of Alabama has been made
by the associate railroad commissioner of
that state. Mr. Smith says that while
Alabama was one of the first three states
to undertake the building of railroads in
1885, its real development in this respect
did not commence until after the war He
said there are 1925 miles of railroad lines
in active operation. Upon this mileage
there are employed, the commissioner says,
about 14,000 men, while a tax valuation of
$45,50O0O is represented. Only two of the
states siXty-six counties are not touched
by lines already operated, or that are now
being built. Among the roads that are
now being constructed are q branch of the
Mobile and Ohio, from Columbus, Miss,
to Montgomery; branch of the Plant sys-
tenn, between Newton and Elba. and TWEEN
ty-eight miles of the Mobile, jackson and
Kansas City line. 1t is also stated that
the Montgomery, Hayneviile and Cam
den railroad Will be soon commenced, and
that charters have been granted to other
companies which will undertake the con-
struction of lines
1t is reported that the contract for build
ing the entire line of the projected At
lana and Alabama railroad, which is to
run between Atlanta and Selma, has been
let to the Erie Construction COMPANY
This company will sublet the grading and
other contracts
The Atlanta, Knoxville and Northern
Railroad Company, has transferred the or
flee of the superintendent and chief train
dispatcher to Blue Ridge.
The statistical report of the interstate
commerce commission for the year ending
June 3d. 1896, has been made public Ac
cording to the report, the total railroad
mileage was 1872 ZIG, an increase of 2119,
southern state, Georgia, making the
most favorable showing, 233 miles, The
number of railroad employees was 500 $40
and they received 80 per cent of the total
amount paid in operating the lines. Ac-
cording to the report, the average capital
per mile was SOS, $40, exclusive of current
liabilities. There were 100000 more mas
sengers carried during the year than dur
ing mat preceding. The report gave some
interesting statistics regarding casualties
1t says that the number of railway en-
ployes killed during the year ending June
80, 1895. was 1851, and the number injured
was 1888 These figures indicate an in
crease of 80 in the number killed and of
4,2f3 in the number injured, as COMPARED
with the preceding year The number of
passengers killed was 49, and the number
of passengers injured, 2.S79, being an in
crease of II in the number killed and of
4SS in the number injured. The number of
persons other than employees and passen-
gers killed was 4,4C5 and the number in
Jured, 5,S45. These figures include casual
ties to persons reported as trespassers. of
whom S,Su were killed, and 46S were in
Jured. From summaries showing the ra
ito OF casualties it is found that for everv
444 men employed on railways / was killed
and for every Is men employed / was in
Jured. A similar comparison as to train
men shows that l tralnman was killed for
each 152 tralnmen employed and that
tralnman was injured for each 10 train
men employed The number of passengers
carried for l passenger killed was 2,S27, 474
anc the number of passengers carried for
l passenger injured was 1879 AS show
ing IN another way the immunity of pas
sengers from accidents, the report gives
ratios based upon the number of TnfIes
Travelled, from which it appears that 70
093,S63 passenger miles were accomnIisbe1
for every passenger killed. and 4541 OK
passenger-miles for every passenger in
jured.
The railroads of Alabama are virtua1i,
tied up by the enforcement of the rieid
quarantine restrictions of the state rrbo
Kansas City, Memphis and BirnIfneban.
has been the last to withdraw trains
That road has taken off all of it's nos.
senger trains into and out of Birmingham.