The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-05

The year Just past witnessed more rail-
road building in the United States than
any since 1890. when $50 miles were con-
structed According to a construction
work table complied by the Railway Age,
si2 lines in forty-four states and terri
tories, up to December 81. 1899, constructed
$500 miles of railway. Of which four lines
In Washington built seventy-five miles,
four lines in Oregon twenty-five miles, six
lines In Idaho 1914 miles. two lines In
Montana twenty-four miles, fifteen lines
in California 1874 miles, and five lines in
Colorado thirty-three and one-haif miles.
The statement shows that with the ex-
ceptions Of Idaho, where the Northern Pa
cihc and Oregon Railroad & Navigation
Companies have been building the Clear
water extension. more miles Of new 'ail-
way were built in Washington per line
than any other far-Western state.
These figures cover only track laid and
do not include large amount Of grading
done by the Northern Pacific. Great North
ern, Oregon Railroad & Navigation Com
pany and adjuncts in this state, on which
rails have not yet been laid and probably
will not be until next spring.
"A notable fact about the new work u
that a much larger percentage than usual
Of 1t was done by existing lines. The new
line construction all over the United
States has been very small.
Among the old lines having completed
Pacific, with ninety-five miles added,
miles added.
that Washington occupies the position 1t
does in new construction work last year.
It is said to be Indicative of the added inn
portance OF the state to railroads doing
and seeking to do business to and from
here The prospects Of Oriental commerce
via Seattle are given as being RESPONSE
BILE for the activity and by those in po-
1900 will show further increase in rail-
road construction in Washington.
In speaking Of the situation In the West
and the difficulties encountered during the
year, the Railway Age says:
EARLY last spring, when II was apparent
that a very pronounced revival in railway
S SeCre h nae Closet set N he yaar mes
more Of new road would be completed.
Many important extensions had already
Tse IL e ahs West ana sou aa
for the first time in number of years
railway contractors found their services
in great demand. Work was 80 abundant
and contractors were SO unprepared for
such rush that the price Of grading be-
This was followed by an almost un-
paralleled demand for labor, and wages
soon increased to the point where It be-
came necessary for contractors to figure
verv carefully before obligating themselves
to complete piece Of work in a given
time. Before the summer had fairly set
In tho demand for labor was far greater
tnan the supply. and offers of 50 and $3.50
per day failed to obtain the men desired.
Then the price Of all kinds OF material
used In the construction of q new railroad
began to go up, and the advance was so
rapid that great many small roads, on
some of which good deal of grading had
been done, had to be laid aside-not aban-
doned. but .postponed-until prices receded
to the point where the work could be car
ried on at less expense.
Consequently, It Is not surprising that
the predictions of the early spring have
not been realized. Taken in connection
with the vast amount of work that has
been done in the way of improvements to
roadway and track--a work which per-
haps never reached such proportions in
any previous year--it seems remarkable
that SO much has been accomplished in
new building"