Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-12-03
THE VAST RAILROAD SYSTEM OF
THE UNITED STATES.


Although the total mileage of the
railroads of the United States exceeds
100000 miles, the building of new
roads shows no signs Of abatement.
The total length, on December 1908,
according to Poor's Manual for 1904,
was 206,Ss6 miles. This represented a
net increase on all railroads, during the
year of 4,774.61 miles. The liabilities
were made up Of capital stock, amount
ing to over $6,OOO,0O0,O0O, funded
debt of $4,000, 100000, and other small
err items that served to bring up the
total liabilities to about $15,000,000
900. The principal assets consisted of
$11, ,0000,OOO,0O0, representing the cost
of the railroads and equipment, and
over $2,5O0,OOO,OO0 representing in
vestments. On this huge system there
were carried over 696,OO0,OOO passen-
gers and about 1,3OO,OOO,OOO tons of
freight. The earnings derived from
passenger traffic amounted to $429, 900
600, while the earnings on freight
reached total of 81, 1888, ,O0O,O 900, other
items bringing up the total traffic rev.
enue of $1,90s, ,s57, ,s26. The net earn
ings reached total of $592, 100000,
and other receipts brought up the to-
tai available revenue to $6S2, 100000.
The operation of the system requires
the services of 44,529 locomotives, 28,-
GAS passenger cars, over 10000 baggage
aud mail ears and no less than 1924, $50
freight cars. The growth of this stu
pendous system, with the exception of
two of three periods of stagnation, has
been remarkably even. In the year
1880 there were 23 miles of railroad in
operation, in 1880 there were 9,121
miles, in 1860 the total had risen to
over 10000 miles, and in 1880 to over
$4,000 miles. Fifteen years later, or in
1895, the trackage had doubled to 1S1,-
065 miles. The largest annual increase
of mileage was in 1887, when 1886
miles of new track were built. The next
largest increase was in 1882, when H.
$50 miles were added. The increase in |
the twentieth century seems to have |
settled down to a steady rate of be-
tween 1000 and 5000 miles each year. |
The growth of the equipment presents
some interesting figures In 1880 there
were 17,949 locomotives, l2,7s9 passen-
ger ears, and 539,255 freight ears. Fif-
teen years later these figures had more
than doubled, the total number of loco !
motives in 1895 being 3661O, of passen-
ger cars 26,4l9 and of freight cars
l,230,79s. The full significance of the
above statistics can only be realized, |
when it is borne in mind that with the |
increase of mileage and equipment in
the quality of roadbed, structures, cars
and engines. The best of the railroads |
of the United States are fully the equal |
in most respects of the best European
roads. In some respects they are SUI
perior and in others not so good. In |
comfort of travel our cars are aeknowl- |
edged to be unsurpassed, but there is
still room for improvement in respect
TO the number and speed of our sched-
uled express train service. 1t is not,
however, improbable that this country |
will be the most active in the extensive |
practical application of electric trac-
tion on trunk roads, just as it was the
pioneer in the development of the troll
ley ear, and should this happen we shall
easily lead the world in the rapidity of |
our express service.