Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-09
RAILWAY BUILDING
Nearly Three Thousand Miles Of
Track Were Laid Prior to
October.
GREAT LACK OF WORKMEN
Arkansas Is In the Lead, But the Terri
tories Have Done Very Well-Most
Track Ia for Old Railway
Systems.
RAILWAY Age, Chicago. October g.

(RallWay age, chicago, october o.
AS many miles of new road were COM
| pleted in the United States during the
three months ending September 30 as
were built in the first six months of the
year, making in round numbers a total
of 200 miles of track laid from Janu-
airy l to September 30. A survey Of the
field shows that work has progressed
steadily since July l, but that not as
much has been accomplished in the way
of completed road as had been antici-
pated. This does not indicate that there
has been any perceptible abandonment
of the work undertaken during the fore
prosperity of the country is so general
and that the demand for labor and ma
terial is so great that railway builders
have found it impossible to secure suffi-
Gent men and supplies to carry on the
work with the speed desired.
From many sections of the country
comes the almost continual cry of a
lack of workmen. Many hundreds Of
miles of road are under construction at
the present time, which cannot be COM
pleted this year owing, first, to the
scarcity of labor, and second, to the in
ability to secure rails and track sup
plies. The demand for steel rails is so
great thai mills are unable to fill orders
for early delivery, and 1t is likewise
practically impossible to secure relay
ing rails at any price. For these rea-
sons much work which had been
planned for completion this year will
have to be postponed until 1900, SO far
as putting down the rails is concerned,
although grading Is being continued
with such forces as "a be obtained.
The 2,7O0 miles of track laid thus far
during 1899 exceed the total mileage for
any year since 1892, with the exception
Of 1898, when 5000 miles were completed.
Eleven states have thus far added 100
miles Or over, each, as follows: Arkan-
sas, 234 miles; Iowa, 203; Minnesota, LET;
Pennsylvania, 1856; New Mexico, 1876;
Louisiana, 1923; Oklahoma, 1903; Florida,
102; Utah, 101; and Alabama and Mis-
sissippi approximately 100 miles each.
This makes a total of 1,504 miles in the
eleven states named, or 14 miles more
than one-half the total new mileage for
the entire country. The eight southern
states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Car
olina, Tennessee and Louisiana have
built 634 miles of road, and the seven
southwestern states of Missouri, Ar
kansas, Oklahoma, Indian Territory,
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona have
added 655 miles, making a total of 1,2S9
miles in these fifteen southern and
southwestern states. The states of Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota,
Michigan and Wisconsin have added $50
miles, and if we add Nebraska, Kansas,
Colorado and Utah to these the total Is
1876 miles.
Although Arkansas leads at the pres
emit writing with 234 miles of track, she
win soon be passed by Iowa, which now
has 203 miles completed, and which at
the close of the year will lead all other
states of the Union in new mileage add
ed. Tracklaying is in progress, or
just beginning, on some 800 miles of line
in that state Gin addition to the 2O3
miles already DOWN, and while all Of it
may not be completed by January l,
there is every Indication that 200 miles
or over will be added before the close of
the year. 1t is a fact worth noting that
nearly all of this new mileage is being
built in the interest of existing roads,
including the Chicago & Northwestern,
Illinois Central, Minneapolis & st.
Louis, Wabash, Iowa Central, Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific, and Burlington,
Cedar Rapids & Northern, the single
exception being the Davenport, Clinton
& Eastern, which is rushing work on
thirty-four miles of line from Daven-
port to Clinton, and which is expected
to be completed by December i.
In many other sections of the country
work is being pushed as rapidly as pos
sible on both grading and tracklaying,
and more miles of track will u~ndoubted-
ly be laid during the month of October
than in any previous month Of the year.
Unless severe weather sets in unusually
early there is every reason to believe
that enough mileage will be added be-
tween now and January / to make the
total for the year 1000 miles or over.