The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-02
INCREASED RAIL#Ar MILEAGE.
Growth In the United states Greatest In
Miss uri and the Southweu,
From the Enpin cerino Record.

From The Engineering Record
The statistics OF American railways pre-
pared by Prof. Henry C. Adams for the Inter-
state Commerce Commission are replete with
interesting information on the condition OF
the lines as business enterprises. The report
for the year ending June 80. 1908. Is dated
June ~. 1904, and has just been published.
At the close OF the 1909 fiscal year there were
a07. e77 miles vi railway in the country. These
figures do not include second third and fourth
tracks. yards and sidings. The increase dur
ing the year was j.5p5 miles. the greatest
amount In any year in the last decade II will
probably surprise IA good many people TO
learn that about half OF this unnsua! growth
has been In Missouri and the Southwest, al
though the South Atlantic States have shown
an unusual activity In railway constrn, ton,
The mileage Of track in some OF these South
western States Is IA little Ting at arst. For
example, at the close Of the period covered by
this report, Arkansas had S,Slt miles, Kansas
$3.50. Texas II .aA. Indian Territory lao. New
Mexico 2.3s9, and Oklahoma i,a7I, total OF
30.5l7 miles. Seven per cent o. thi' mileage
was laid during the year covered by the rcp9rt.
This network Of railways can be viewed IN an
other way. Nhinh Ia OF much interest, In A.
kansas thee were on June 80 OF last year .3.t8
miles OF railway for every i0oGJ inhs. itapts.
In Kansas $500 miles. In I eSas $3.50. IN the
Indian Territory 1913. in New Mexico iisf.'.
and In Oklahoma 400. The'c figure do not
convey much meaning until ,hcysTe comparei
with similar statistics for some Of tbs Eli Stern
States, such as 1913 miles in Come tie /. 10
In Massachusetts,. IS. 6s in Michigan. ?3.'+ in
Illinois. 10 In New York anu 1910 ~ ranr-
sylvsnia.
AL these figures give wat +. known rs
single track mileage. In many part, NJ tbs
country the most important recent railway
construction does not come under this head.
II has been carried on to provide for an Up
creased volume OF trafhc. and comprises addi-
uonal trunk and yard tracks and siangs. In
the whole country this additional tracksge
increased COS per cent. during the fiscal year
1908. while the main single track mirage IN
creased but ass per cent When all the tracks
in the country are added together the tosai
length Of American railways was 2ss s?i miles
on June 30 Of last year, s.s7o miles more than
on June %. 1902. and ei,sSs miles more than on
For the operation of these lines there ver.
E.s7i locomotives In use last year. OF which
1880 were on passenger service, and 1881 900
There were ia loeomotives POI. 900 mile. OF
line. as against 900 the year before, The in
service. The Increase IL ear.
s%Ss &
a. s bs 4
Of local than through passenger franc: the
NUMBER OF tnns OF rTetSnt per InoomotiNe ~
creased but OFT per cent. but the ton mile
srowth Of long-haul shipments AZ compared
With local business.
The most interesting neures In the report are
thoes indicating the enormous stsT Of men
required to operate the American railways.
The number was Si2 .Ss7 on June 30 1905, over
10 per cent. more than during the previous
wear, and equivalent 10 $50 per 100 miles OF
track. The greatest liner ease has been 10 sta.
iaborers BY including the families dependent
on railway employees for support, at least stI
million peonie may be said To obtain their lv-
Ing from railways. The total payroll Of the
year wa. t757 sal 900, more than Isl .ooo. 900
greater than In 1904.