Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-09-08
OUR RAILROAD MILEAGE.

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Country and Growing uneveniy.
New York is the first of the states in
respect of population, Pennsylvania is
second. Texas is the largest of the
states. California is the second larg-
est. Yet neither New York, Pennsyl-
vania, Texas nor California stands first
in respect of railroad mileage; that
distinction belongs to Illinois. The
railroad mileage of Illinois exceeds 10,-
COO. The significance Of that figure
may be understood when it is known
that the railroad mileage of Russia is
only $4,000. Second in the list of states
In railroad mileage is Pennsylvania.
New York comes sixth. Kansas. Iowa
and Ohio being ahead of it. Kansas has
railroad mileage Of 5000; Iowa Of
$500; Ohio, of s,7G0. and New York of
$500. The railroad mileage of New
York. small as 1t Is by comparison with
that of some other states, is large when
compared with that of some European
countries. The mileage of Spain, ma
ton of 100000 people, is only 1900
and that Of Portugal 10 but 1900.
though the population is three-quar-
tiers as large as that of the Empire
state. Montana, with an area of 146.-
900 square miles. has only 2.70O miles
of railroad, while New Jersey, with
only 1900 square miles, has 1900 miles
of railroad. Utah and Minnesota are
almost exactly "A the same size. and the
little differenceSwhich exists between
them is in favor of Utah. but Minneso-
ia has only 1900 miles of railroad
while Utah has 5000. Nevada and YER
mont have almost to a mile the same
railroad mileage, but Nevada has an
area of 10000 square miles and YER
mont an area of only 5000.
The total railroad mileage of Eng
land is $4,000. less than that of Illinois
and Indiana together, and the total
mileage of the United Kingdom. Eng
land. Scotland and Ireland (there Is
larger railroad mileage in Scotland
than in Ireland). is less than that of
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The disparity between the states in the
matter of railroad building is increas-
ing. for new lines are being pushed
constantly in some sections of the
country while others are neglected. In
Connecticut. for instance, the present
railroad mileage has increased less
than 100 in the last II years. though
in the same period the railroad mile
age Of Florida has increased from 51s
10 1000. Virginia has doubled its rail-
road trackage since 1880; so has Ken
lucky; but Washington state has in
creased its mileage in the same period
from 2s9 miles TO 1880 miles.
1t is supposed popularity that there
has been less railroad development in
the south than in many Of the northern
states. but the contrary is true. From
1850 to 1895 the railroad mileage of the
middle Atlantic states-New York.
New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Delaware
and aryland-increased so per cent.
and that of the five north central
states-Ohio. Michigan. Indiana. Illi-
nois and Wisconsin-60 per cent. But
In the same period the railroad mile
age of what are called the Mississippi
valley states-Louisiana, Mississippi.
Alabama. Kentucky and Tennessee
increased 100 per cent, and the rail-
road mileage of the South Atlantic
North Carolina, South
Carolina. Georgia. West Virginia and
Northumberland 100 per cent. The
average cost of constructing a mile of
railroad is s65.000.--N. Y. Sun.