Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-07-21
RAILROADS IN JAPAN.
Now Has Three Thousand Miles in
Operation.

Last year $3.50 the progress of rail-
way enterprise in Japan was phenom-
enal Since the pioneer railway was
constructed between Toxic and Yoko-
hama, a distance of eighteen miles, in
1872, the system has been extended at
an average rate of 100 miles year,
so that at the end of March, 1897,
which concluded the twenty-ninth ifs
cal year, the total mileage had reached
2,448 miles. At one leap, however, dur
ing the year just expired no less than
$50 miles, approximately were added
10000 miles in round numbers. OF the
lines newly opened for traffic during
last year, the Tokuyama section of the
Sanyo railway, the Iwaki section of the
Nippon railway, and the Choshi section
of the Sobu railway were the most i'm
portant, for their mileage alone aggre-
gated 100 miles and some fractions. OF
the works of construction actively
pushed on since last year we may men,
ton, among the government lines, the
Central line, the construction of which
was begun from the three different
termini at Nagoya, Hachioji and Shi-
nonoi; the Komatsu-Tsuhata section
via Kanazawa of the Hokuriku rail-
way, and the Fukushima-Y amagata
section of the Tohoku railway, which
is to effect junction ultimately with
the Aomori terminus of the Nippon
railways line. With regard to the pri-
vate railway enterpr Sc we may men
ton the coast section from Taira to
Nakamura of the Jyoban branch of the
Nippon railway; the Koriyama-Wawa-
matsu section of the Ganyetus branch
of the same railway; the Sanjyo-Na-
gooka section of the Hokuyetsu rail-
way; the Kamo-Nara and Shijyo Ma
wate-Kitsu sections of the Kansai rail-
way; and the prolongations of the To-
kuyama terminus of the Sanyo rail-
way as far as Mitjiri. When this pro-
longation shall have been completed
the next work to be undertaken will be
the further prolongation of the trunk
line as far as shimonoseki, which, ac-
cording to the program, will be the
terminus at one end as Kobe is at the
other. On the completion of the above
mentioned two sections of the Kansai
railway, Osaka and Nagoya will be con-
nected with another railway service,
besides the facility now afforded by the
government Tokaido line. Railway en-
terprise is also active in Kyushu. The
Hayagi-Omura section and the Sasebo
branch of the Kyshu railway have been
virtually completed and will be opened
for traffic at no distant date. The other
sections will be completed by June
next. The industry at Hokkaido is di-
vided into two periods. To the first pc
Rod OF construction belongs the line
which is to start from the Sorachifuto
| terminus of the Tanko railway and to
| reach Asahigawa via Kamikawa. From
| Asahigawa, one route will go south
ward to the coast of Kushiro, and
thence along the coast to Nemuro. The
other route will divert northward from
Asahigawa and will reach Soya by
| way of Teshiwo. The total length is
| about 600 miles. The Sorachibuto-
| Asahigawa section we understand
will be opened for traffic by May next
most probably. On the part of private
railway enterprise, in Hokkaido, that
of the HANSON railway company is the
most important. The project is to con-
meet Hakodate and Otaru, distance OF
$50 miles, at the estimated cost of g.
oOO,O yen (s3,9S4,000). The work OF
construction will be completed in about
five years. At present the journey be-
tween Otaru and HaKodate, if made by
steamer. occupies twenty-four hours
while if undertaken by the railway
service now available from Mororan nc
less than thirty-siX hours are neces-
sary. On the completion of the HANSON
railway it will be possible to cover the
| distance in eight hours.-Japan Times
] The value of a golden opportunity