The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-08
RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION.
A Big Record Made In The Last Nine
Months.

As mRny miles Of new road were COM
pleted in the United States during the
three months ending September goth as
were built in the first six months Of the
year, making IN round numbers a total OF
2.5c0 miles OF track laid from January
LIST to September 30th, says the Railway
Age. A survey Of the field shows that
work has progressed steadily since July
list. but that not as mach has been ac-
complished IN the way OF completed road
as had been anticipated. This does not
indicate that there has been any percep-
tlble abandonment Of the work under
taken during the fore part OF the year,
but Il means that the prosperity OF the
country is so general and mat the de-
lnand Tor labor and material is so great
that railway builders have found IL I'M
possible to secure SUFFICIENT men ana
supplies 10 carry ON the work Win inc
speed desired.
IRON many sections OF the country
comes The almost continual cry OF lack
of workmen. Many hundreds Of miles OF
yoad are under construction at the pres
eut time. which cannot be completed THIS
wear. owing FIRST 20 the scarcity OF LABOR,
and second TO the inability TO secure rams
and track supplies. The demand Tor steel
rails is 50 great that mills are unable 70
m orders for early delivery and IL Is
likewise practically impossible 20 secure
reiayng rails az any price For these
reasons much work which had been pian-
ned for completion this year will nave 10
be postponed until 1907 so far az putting
cod NJ 10
grading is being continued with such
forces az can be obtained.
The 200 miles OF track laid thus far
during 1899 exceed the total mileage for
any year since is92 with the exception OF
1893, when $3.50 miles were completed
Eleven States have thus far added 100
miles, or over, each. as follows: Arkansas.
23i miles: lowe. 203 miles; Minnesota. l5l
miles: Pennsylvania. 135 miles: New Mex
ico. 13j miles, Louisiana, l45 miles, Okla
homa 103 miles Florida. lC2 miles; Titan.
l0l miles and Alabama and Mississppi
approximately 10 miles each. This makes
a total Of 1904 miles In the eleven States
named. or l4 miles more than oue-half the
total new mileage for the entire country.
The eight Southern States Of Alabama,
Florida, Georgia. Mississippi North Caro-
Ina, South Carolina. Tennessee and Louis
lana have built ga miles Of road. and the
seven southwestern States Of Missouri,
Arkansas. oklahoma. Indian Territory
Texas. New Mexico and Arizona have add
ed 65j miles. making a total o. 1889 miles
In these fifteen southern and southwestern
States. The States OF Ohio Indiana, Illi-
uois. Iowa. Minnesota. Michigan and WIS
consin have added $50 miles. and n we add
Nebraska. Kansas. Colorado, and Utah 10
these the total Is 735 miles.
Although Arkansas leads AT the present
writing with 2.A miles OF track, she WiA
soon be passed by Iowa. which now has
203 miles completed and Whieh ar the
close OF the year VIII lead au 0Inrr
States Of the Union Ed new mileage added
Track-laying IS now I'm progress, or Just
beginning. on some 900 miles or lire IN
that State On addition 20 he 202 miles
already DOWN. and while an OF 10 may
not be completed by January fst there
Is every indication that POO miles or over
will be added before the close Of the year.
IL is fact worth noting that nearly all
NJ this new mileage Is being built IN the
interest Of existing roads. including the
Chicago and Northwest tern Illinois Cen
trai MINNEAPOLIS and St Louis Wabash.
Iowa Central: Chicago, Rock Island and
Pacific. and Burlington. Cedar Rapids and
Northern the single exception being the
Davenport. clinton and Eastern which
Is rushing work on thirty-four miles OF
line from Davenport 10 tllnion. ana winch
Is expected 10 be completed b. Deem
Der 1st.
In many sections Of the country work
Is being pushed as rapidly as possible on
both grading and track-iaying. and more
miles OF track will undoubtedly BE laid
during the month OF October than i'm any
previous month OF the year Unless Sc
we're weather sets I'm unusually early there
Is every reason q believe that enough
MILEAGE wifi be added between now and
January 1st 20 make the total for the
year 1000 miles or over.