The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-02

More miles of new railroad were built
during 1899 than in any previous year
since 1890. when 500 miles of line were
completed. Since Jan. ! last, no less
than $500 miles Of track have been laid
in the United States on 3l2 lines in A
states and territories. The Railway
Age says: In Pennsylvania 1896 miles
have been laid on 36 lines; in Ohio,
57.32 miles on eight lines; in West Nir-
ginia. 32.5 miles, on six lines.
The figures cover tracklaying only
and do not include large amount oc
completed grade, on which track will
not be laid until next spring. The only
states not represented in the figures
on construction are New Hampshire.
Rhode Island. Delaware, Nevada and
South Dakota. There are several lines
under construction in South Dakota.
The great agricultural state of Iowa,
In which there has been little railway
building for the ten years previous to
1899, stands at the head of the list with
6S2 miles of new road The work in
this state has been carried on almost
exclusively In the interest of large sys-
TENS. such as the Chicago and North
western, Illinois Central. Chicago, Mill
waukee and st. Paul. Minneapolis and
st. Louis. and Wabash. Minnesota
comes next with 1863 miles to her credit,
and good share Of the mileage in this
state has likewise been built by the
chicago and Northwestern. although
the Great Northern and Minneapolis
and st. Louis have added important
extensions. Arkansas is next, with go
miles of new road. over one-half OF
which has been built by the Choctow,
Oklahoma and Gulf
While there have been large additions
IN the southern, northern and middle
western states, the scene of greatest
activity has been west of the Missis-
Sippi river, the twenty states so located
III which new mileage is reported con-
trlbuting 2.59l miles. considerably more
than one-half of the total Of the entire
country.
The notable fact about the work of
the past year is that there has been
comparatively little building by new
companies. more than three-Quarters
or the new mileage having been built
by or in the interest of existing lines.
The Chicago and Northwestern has
bui't 357la miles. the Chicago. Mil
waukee and st. Paul. 9S miles, the
Northern Pacific 95 miles in the United
states and - miles in Canada. the Chi
cago. Rock Island and Pacific 81 miles,
the AtchisOn. Topeka and Santa Fe 1860
miles. the Illinois Central 1870 miles, the
Burlington system so miles, the Louis
Vile and Nashville "a miles, the Sea-
hoard Air Line over 100 miles, the
Great Northern - miles and the Choc-
faw. Oklahoma and Gulf 1862 miles.
These are only few instances. many
other important systems having added
less mileage.
The longest continuous line built is
the extension of the Choctaw, Okla
homa and Gulf from Howe, |. T., to
Little Rock, Ark, 1924 miles, and the
next longest line is the extension OF
the Illinois Central from Fort Dodge,
Ia. to Omaha. 13l miles. The Minne-
apolis and st. Louis is building l33
miles from New Tim, Mimi, to storm
Lake. Ia, and most of the track has
been laid. One of the lines built by
the Chicago ard Northwestern Is 1I9
miles in length. from Burt, Ia, to
Festa. Mimi. Incomplete returns from
Canada and Mexico show 470 miles of
new line In. Canada and 255 miles in
Mexico.