The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-10

Surplus, none.
The payments { o railway and steam
ship companies for transportation.
rentals and other considerations. II will
be seen. exactly offset the balance. leav-
ing nothing taxable as far the total
lines earnings are concerned. The sur
plus from operations for previou7 years
was $12, 953.2 20.
A pretty good test Of the civilization
OF a country is to be found in its rail-
road mileage, says the New York Sun.
Among the important countries of the
world. the one which stands lowest In
respect TO railroad mileage is Persia
Persia has Just "a miles OF railroad-the
distance from Brooklyn to Fire Island.
TO more-snd 1t is made up of the line
from Teheran to Shaabdul-Azln Ga good
name for a brakeman's announcement) /;
another line 20 miles long was begun,
but abandoned later. Persia's distinc-
ton of being last on the railroad list
seems likely to continue Indefinitely.
China and Japan AVE been very gener-
ally regarded as similar countries. but
while China Is described by Lord Sails
bury as a dying country. Japan is up
TO date. The area of Japan Is approx
mately $50. 900 square miles; the area Of
China is 1900, 900 squere miles, or more
Than eight times greater. The popula-
ton of Japan is AZ. 000, 900. whereas the
population OF China is in excess of 400
600. 900. or ten times greater, and yet the
railroad mileage of China IL only 12i.
while that of japan was 2.231 by last
accounts. The longest of the railroads
in China is 20 miles. from Tien-Tsin to
Pekin. The japanese railroads carried
last year 70. 000. 900 passengers. about 10
per cent. of the number carried by the
United States.
There are in this country 1s0. 900 miles
of railways. a mileage greater than that
OF the whole OF Europe n the whole
Of South America combined. The ex-
tent OF the American railroad system.
the wonder OF all other countries. Is
better understood. perhaps. with knowl-
edge of the fact that. In proportion to
population. the United States has nor
than five times as much as Germany.
five times as much as Great Britain
and ireland. more than our times as
much as France. more thar six times as
much as Austria-Hungary. and more
than IL times as much as Russia n
laggard among European nations in re-
spect to railroads is, of course. Spain:
the country having the largest railroad
mileage in proportion to its area is Bel
GUM. In respect to the rate OF increase
in railroad mileage. Russia stands first
with a gain of 20 per cent. In the last
FIVE years. Germany being Z. hat OF
France 8, and OF Great Britain 3. There
are $500 miles OF railroads in Africa,
and II. 900 in Australia.
Next Wednesday Is the day chosen
for the first session Of the arbitrators
to consider the disagreement between
the American lines and the Canadian
Pacific over freight rates. The first
session will be held in Chicago. II fur
Their meetings are necessary II Is prob
able that some OF them will be held in
Washington. the home Of Judge Day,
who represents the American lines in
the controversy.
Freight interests look upon this case.
which Is in the hands of Judge Day.
John w. Midgley n r. S. Washburn,
as one of the most important ever sub
mitted to arbitration In this country.
and one Nnich will have great bearing
on the transcontinental traffic of North
America The Canadian Pacific, which
Mr.. Midgley represents. holds out for a
differential OF 10 per cent. below the
transcontinental tariffs of the American
lines. such a concession was granted 10
II years ago. when it's line was new and
it's connections such that IL could not
make as quick deliveries as the roads
of this country. Now the conditions.
the American lines argue. have changed
to such a degree that the foreign road
is In no way handicapped. Still the use
of the differential continues to the det-
triment Of the trafic OF the American
lines. The Canadian Pacific could not
be induced to suspend the use OF the
differential. and the lines of this coun-
try refused longer to grant IL. An ami
cable adjustment was not possible.
hence the matter was referred to the ar
bitrators. Under the terms of the ar
bitration agreement each party to the
controversy pledges himself to abide by
the decision. The board Is to decide
whether the Canadian Pacific is entitled
to a differential. and IL 50. to FIX the
amount
The settlement Of this issue viii dis
nose of the principal causes OF dispute