Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-12-11

brought down to September l, 1898, by
means of ratios and by computations
made by Mr.. Duane Doty, of Pull
mans Palace Car Company, cannot but
be of interest to all men engaged in
transportation:
IAN instantaneous photograph Of
any domain of human activity" says
Mr.. Doty, constitutes an instructive
study land especially so when it in
cludes our own field of effort. From
twenty-five miles of railroad in 1880,
and in less time than the Biblical
span of three score years and ten al
lifted to the life of man, our railroads
have reached their present magnitude,
though still in the morning time Of
their evolution.
Had the whole population of the
globe the same amount of railroad
mileage proportionately that we have
in the United States. the worlds mile
age would be 100000 instead of one
tenth that amount as now. Our period
Of existence may we'll be looked upon
as the childhood of the race. A retro
spective review of our railroads, a
glance at their present condition and
glimpses afforded of their probabilities
and possibilities fully illustrate the
truth that we are only in the dawn OF
our material development. The habit
able portions of the earths surface,
comprising only about two-fifths of its
land masses, even with our present
very imperfect agriculture, can easily
support four times the present popula-
ton Of the world, or $500 100000 hui
man beings, and this number will be
reached $50 years hence, or by the
year 2159 A. D.
VALUE OF OUR RAILROADS.
The average value of our railroads
is usually placed at 100000 a mile,
though it is little more than that; at
this rate our 1865 miles of road is
worth S11,1S1 100000. The investment
in these roads, including capital stock,
funded unfunded, and current debts.
can safely be placed at Sl1 500, 900, 900.
Our population is now 10000 900. If
the wealth of our country has increased
in the past eight years proportionately
with the increase between 1880 and
1890, the wealth of the whole country
to-day is $84,000,000, 900, or $1.150 for
every man, woman and child of the
population. The average wealth in
1850 was only $30S per capita, the in
crease being near fourfold since then.
The wealth of our country is now in
creasing at the rate of $6,000,000 a
day. One seventh of our wealth is in
railroads. or $3.50 for every member of
our population,
THE railroads of the United States
now employ $4,000 persons, and the
average annual pay of each is $3.50. A
few officials receive large salaries, but
the $4,000 station men and track re-
pairers, and the 10000 switchmen, flag
men and watchmen, all get small wag-
es though their pay is sure and their
employment is as rule, uninterrupt-
ed. There are now $50 employees to
every 100 miles Of road, or four and a
half to every mile.
Exclusively of sleeping cars, our
railroads now have 1925. 900 cars of all
kinds, or 81 cars to every locomotive,
or seven cars to every mile of road.
Inclusive of sleeping cars there are
now $4,000 passenger, mail and ex-
press cars in use. Considering the life
of a freight car, twelve years-and its
earnings after that length Of service
will barely keep it in repair-it is clear
that about 100000 of these cars now
annually go into scrap. In other
words, 100000 new freight cars are
needed every year TO replace those
which are worn out, to say nothing OF
the additional cars required for new
roads and for the natural increase OF
freight business. The following Is a
record of the freight cars built in the
United States for the years indicated,
revised by the editor of the Railway
Age: Freight cars built in 1890. 103.-
600; 1891, e5 200; 1892. IS, 900; 1893, 81
600; 1894 $4,000; 1895. $4,000; 1896
50 600; 1897, $4,000
Nearly 40 per cent. of the total
freight cars constructed in 1897 were
for the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
COULD USE 200, 900 MORE CARS.
For the years preceding the World
Fair we built the normal number OF
cars needed, but since 1892, through the
years of business depression, or for the
FIVE years ending 1897, we built on the
average only 41,000 freight cars a
year. There are indications that the
year 1898 will show much greater &C
tivity in this line. The railroads OF
the country could use TO advantage
200 900 more freight cars than they
now have. 1t is clear that renewed &C.