The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-04
SEATTLE, TUESDAY. SEPT. =.
washingson's Railroad Systems.


washington's Railroad Systems.
The people OF the state Of washington
hardly realize how well provided this
state Is with railroads. as compared
with other states Of like or even greater
population. For this reason the sta
tistics contained in the twelfth annual
report OF the interstate commerce COM
mission, the advance sheets of which
have just been issued. will create some
surprise According TO this report, the
total railroad mileage In the state OF
washington IL 2.sss.72. This IL a larger
railroad mileage than is found in any
single state In New England Massa-
chusetts. the leading New England
state, has but 2122 miles Of railroad.
while in Vermont there are but ss4
miles.
In comparison with the Southern
states. Washington has more miles Of
railroad than Delaware. Louisiana,
Maryland. Mississippi. South Carolina
or West Virginia. II is only slightly ex-
ceeded by Arkansas ana Kentucky,
New Jersey Is popularity looked upon
vas a great railroad state. yet Washing
ton has 600 miles more OF railroad than
has New Jersey
or the Pacific coast states. It is ex-
cceded by California and slightly by
Montana. but on the other hand II has
considerably more miles. in proportion
to population. than has California. and
nearly twice az many miles In proper
ton to the area Of the state. Its rail-
read mileage Is nearly double that of
Oregon. Is greater than that of either
of the Dakotas. IL more than three
times as great as that OF Nevada, and Is
more than quarter Of the mileage OF
Illinois. which leads all OF the states in
the Union.
On other comparisons its position is
equally strong. In comparing Its rail-
road mileage with population, its posi-
ton Is better than any other state In the
Union save Fiorids, Colorado. Montana.
Nevada. North Dakota. South Dakota
ana wyoming. These states. except
Florida, owe their excess Of mileage IN
proportion 60 population 60 the extent of
transcontinentai railroads bun, through
them 20 reach pacffc terminals.
An regards the number OF miles OF
railroad per square mile OF territory.
mono OF the FAR Western states Is In the
same class with Washington. although.
az course. u Is far exceeded In this re-
spect by the older and more thickly set
tied states Washington has 42i miles
~ rsllroad Tor every 100 square miles Of
territory IN It's borders. This Is a much
larger proportion than Is found IN Calf
fornia. Idaho, Montana. Nevada. Ore
gon. North Dakota. south Dakota, Tex.
as. Utah or wyoming No state 10 the
unson save Colorado exceeds Washing
ten In both respects, the number OF
miles IN. proportion 10 population and
the number ia proportion 90 area. and In
the latter respect the lead OF Colorado
Is bat small
other figures contained In the same
tables are also u interest The loaaieS
states In railroad mileage are Illinois.
with ie.s7s. Pennsylvania. ia.ta. Texas.
s.s7s: Kansas, ssrs; Iowa $3.50. New
York. Sisi. and Michigan. sosl The
state having the greatest number OF
miles Of railraa In proportion 10 area Is
New Jersey. which has over 30 miles o,
railroad for each 100 square miles. Mon
tana carries the record for the greatest
mileage IA proportion % population.
having 1874 mites Of raiiroaa Tor each
i0,oo0 Inhabitants. Rhode Island Is at
the bottom OF the list IN mileage. there
being but asi mites within s;s nmits.
Tho total length Of railroad Ia the
United States is 1885, miles. which
gives ss5 miles for each 100 miles Of
area, and $3.50 miles for each l0.Ooo in
hsbitsnts On this comparison. WASH
tngion has two-thirds as much railroad