Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-18
INCREASED RAILWAY MILEAGE.
Growth in the United States Greatest
in Missouri and the Southwest.

From the Engineering Record.
The statistics OF American railways pre-
pared by Prof. Henry C. Adams for the
interstate commerce commission are replete
with interesting information on the cond-
ton of the lines as business enterprises.
The report for the year ending June 80.
1903 is dated June -. 1904. and has just
been published.
At the close of the 1903 fiscal year there
were 201 .97I miles of railway IN the coun-
try. These figures do not include second.
third and fourth tracks yards and sdings.
The increase during the year was 5.Jt5
miles, the greatest amount in any year 4
the last decade 1t will probably surprise
a good many people to learn that about
half of this unusual growth has been in
Missouri and the southwest. although the
south Atlantic states have shown an I'M
usual activity in railway construction.
The mileage of track in some of these
southwestern states is a little startling at
first. For example at the close of the
period covered by this report. Arkansas
had 3S14 miles. Kansas, $3.50; Texas H.
344: Indian territory. 2.l90: New Mexico.
2.399 and Oklahoma. 1871. total Of 30.5I7
miles. Seven per cent of this mileage was
laid during the year covered by the report.
This network of railways can be viewed in
another way. which is OF much interest.
In Arkansas there were on June 80 Of last
year 2i.66 miles OF railway for every 1oJOO
Inhabitants: in Kansas 1892 miles: in
Texas. $3.50: in the Indian territory. 81. Ii:
In New Mexico. 1875. and In Oklahoma,
4I.69. These figures do not convey much
meaning until they are compared with
similar. statistics for, some of the eastern
states. such as 1913 miles In Connecticut.
10 in Massachusetts. S3.6S in Michigan,
% in Illinois, 20 in New York and Id. 10
liz PENNSYLVANIA.
All these figures give what is known as
single-track mileage. In many parts OF
the country the most important recent rail-
way construction Goes not come under this
head 1t has been carried on to provide for
an increased volume OF traffic and COM
prises additional trunk and yard tracks
anc sidings. In the whole country this ad-
ditioral trackage Increased 603 per cent
during the fiscal year 1903. while the main
single-track mileage increased but 25S per
cent. When all the tracks in the country
are added together the total length OF
American railways was 2S3.S21 miles on
June 80 of last year. 1925 miles more than
On June 30. 1902. and 81 1913 miles more than
On June 30. 1894.
For the operation of these lines there
were 1851 locomotives in last year.
OF which 1880 were on passenger service.
and 17533S9 cars of which 3S 40 were for
passengers. There were Ola locomotives
per 1000 miles of line. as against 2O6 the
year before. The increase was mainly in
equipment for freight service. The corre-
spending increase in cars per 1000 miles
OF road. from 8. 19J TO $40, was likewise al
most wholly for freight. The number of
passengers carried by each locomotive dur
iiis Tie ycdi iiSie dseu Too per CENT " hic
the passenger miles per locomotive IN
creased 800 per cert. This difference In
percentages can only be explained by a
greater growth OF local than through pas
senger traffic The number of tons of
freight per locomotive increased but OF
per cent. but the ton mileage increased 2.l2
per cent. due to the growth of long-haul
shipments compared with local business.
= The most interesting figures In the report
are those indicating the enormous stan OF
men required to operate the American rail-
ways. The number was 1.312537 on June
so. 1903. over 10 per cent more than during
the previous year. and equivalent to 90
per 100 miles of track. The greatest in
crease has been In station attendants,
brakemen track hands and laborers. BY
including the families dependent on rail-
way employees for support. at least SIX
million people may be said to obtain their
living from railways The total pay roll Of
the year was $751; 32l 900. more than $751;
00e COO greater than In 1902.