The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-13
From the Now York sun.

From the New York sun.
Not quite, but very nearly one-half of
the railroad mileage of the world is in
North America. If to the railroad mile
age of North America be added that of
Brazil and Argentina in South America,
1900 miles collectively, the total will
exceed the mileage of all the rest of the
world-Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
and the other South American countries
included. Moreover, railroad building is
being carried on much more rapidly in
the United States than elsewhere. But 1t
Is not only in respect of the extension
of their railroad system that the United
States take precedence, for some recent
computations show that the United
States furnish to travellers and shippers
the best service at the lowest cost
In many states of the country there are
laws fixing the maximum charge for pass
engers at cents a mile, while In some
European countries, notably France, the
average rate charged Is in excess OF that
figure. The minimum of some European
countries is higher than the maximum
allowed in the United States. According
to the computations referred to, the av-
erage rate charged for passenger service
In the United States Is 2.15 cents a mile,
and the fact is that in many eastern
states where railroad system have been
long established a rate of III cents q.
and far western railroads chiefly which
keep up the average rate. In Missouri,
for instance, 4 cents q mile is a lawful
charge, and in Arkansas the maximum
is cents. Some Colorado railroads
charge or cents a mile, and and 5
cents mile on local traffic in the south Is
not unusual, but, taking the country
through, the average rate, as stated, is
215 cents. In England, where the me-
chanical obstacles in railroading are
comparatively few, the average rate is
2.20 cents a mile; in Belgium, a country
in which there are practically no mechan-
| tcal obstacles the rate is 2.25. In Ger
| many 1t is 301 cents. in Austria-Hun-
gary It is sos in France it is 1886 and in
| Spain 1t Is 450.
In no other country in the world are the
| facilities for passengers so many as in
| the United States, and the increase of
these facilities and convenences is con-
stant. on many western roads seats in
chair cars, corresponding with parlor cars
! on eastern lines, are furnished gratuit-
ously. The sleeping car service is more
| general and better in the United States
| than in any other country, and light and
| heat, two essentials of up-to-date rail-
road travel, are better furnished hero
than in any other country.
| o
| The freight charges, too estimated on
| the basis of carrying q ton OF freight a
mile, are lower here than in other coun-
| tries. In England the average rate is
| cents. In Belgium it is 1.60. in France
| 1.56 and in Germany 1.35 cents In the
United States it is 0.97 cent or less than
/ cent a mile per ton of freight moved,
| taking the whole country through If the
| average Of American freight rates was
as high as 1t is in Germany the people of
this country would have paid the rail-
ways last year about $3.50 900 600 more than
they did If the rates had been as high
as they are in England the people of this
| country would have paid the railways
| about $3.50, 900. 600 more than they did. An
| Illustration of the excellence OF the SER
vice on American railroads is furnished
by the fact that although the collections
from freight are larger in Europe than
they are in the United States and the
number of passengers carried is material
ly greater than in this country, the OK
pense Of maintenance of American rail-
roads is s1OO.O0o0O0 more in a year than
for those operated in Europe. And the
American railroad system is improving
all the time the freight and passenger
rates are being reduced and the charac'
ter of the service given-luxurlous pass
enger travel and quick freight-is better
| every year.