The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-18
RAILROADS ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

The greatest cvizing of the in that 1t IS
the greatest promoter of commerce. Of quick transporta
ton in annhilates distance and communities all
interests is the railway. links together communities
community of interests not only but states nations
and continents.
During 1901 there were put in the United States
5057 miles Of new railways the estimate being that OF
Statistical Bureau of the Treasury The increase IS
greater than has been recorded for any year since 1890
and brings the trackage this country up 199S7S
miles exclusive Of the large and rapidly growing mileage
of urban and suburban operated by electricity The
railway mileage of the whole world is estimated at 1884,
8lS miles, that of the United States therefore, const
tutes than twoffths of the total Roughly speak
jne this may taken as a Of the productive
energy Of the American people compared with that
of the entire population Of the globe
OF the total mileage open to traffic, North Amer
226657 miles, Europe 16S,605, Asia $3.50, South
America 2S364 Africa, 1850 and Australasia 1922.
Mexico which 1860 had but railway &c miles long
from Vera Cruz the capital city has network of
COS miles while the Canadian systems 1857
miles OF rack-which goes show the advantages OF
having restless and enterprsng nation for neighbor
Of course the Canadian and Mexican governments
entitled credit for their encouragement Of railway
Etructon. but it is fair assumption that but for the
proximity the United States and the marvellous expan
sion of American industry and commerce the greater
part the in the adjoining countries would
not have been built.
OF the half million miles Of railways in the world
about one-thrd owned by the governments Of the
countries wherein they located. Ninetenths Of
German roads owned by the federal government or
10y the various states comprised in the empire Two
thirds OF the Russian roads built and owned and
operated by the government nearly one-half
those of AusraHungary. Nearly al of the Italian roads
government property but are operated by companies
under leases The government Of France, in accordance
with the terms of the franchises. under which the rail
roads within its borders were constructed. viii become
the proprietor of nearly all of them by the middle
the present century. large proportion the railway
mileage in operation in India (25035 miles, is public prop
erty while practically an the railways Australasia are
owned by the various colonies Anyone may draw what
moral he please from these facts. There is more
consideration Of weighty import however in this con
uection.
is significant that in the United States where trans
portaon facilities have been furnished by the adventure
private capital the people have greater and cheaper
facilities than afforded in other countries. These
after AL the main considerations Government own
ership costly ana NAV be made means Of eztoronae
tribute On the other hand there are some adVanares
On the government railways Of Germany for instance
discriminative rates absolutely prohibited No ship
per secure transportation for his goods at one cent
less and can lee compelled To pay enc cent more
than the lawful and authorized rates No artificial nonop
oily be built up in Germany by the fayors OF or an
. alliance with the common carriers.