The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29
RAILROAD news.
Southwest Leads in New Rail
Mileage.
Statistics Show 6,O67 Miles of
Road Built During Year.
PUSHWESTERN PACIFIC
Since 1888 More Track Laid
Than in Amy IL Months.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

Chicago, Dec. 27.-The Railway
! Age has prepared statistics showing
the railroad construction in 1906 The
most work was done in the southwest
ern states, in which 1918 miles of
! track were laid. Texas leads all the
states with 701 miles. The Railway
Age says:
During the past year railway con-
struction in the United States has pro-
ceeded on a larger scale than for
eighteen years past, and 1906 will pass
into history as the year of greatest
railway building since 1883. The
record year for the United States in
construction was 1887 when 1900
miles of new main line track were laid,
and the following year witnessed the
completion of 7,106 miles.
Since 1888 the figures Of completed
road have fluctuated between 1903
miles IN 1895 and 5,7S6 miles in 1903.
But in no year since 1887 has so much
construction been under way as dur
ing 1906, and except for the delays en-
countered in the scarcity of labor and
the difficulty in securing rails the re-
suits in track laid for the year just
closing would have exceeded those of
1888
The Railway Age has made thor
Ough canvass of the entire country
and while some small roads are yet to
be heard from. the returns show that
since January I last 6,O67 miles of
track have been laid on 3SS lines in
dicated in the following table:
Alabama, SO.14 miles; Alaska,
$3.50: Arizona, 43.49; Arkansas,
27O.03; California, 211.61; Colorado.
1880; Florida. 177.O9; Georgia.
1SO-10; Idaho. 1850; Illinois. soS4;
Indiana. 34.59; Indian territory.
1O4.95; Iowa, 3O.75: Kansas, $3.50;
Kentucky, 30.41: Louisiana, 1920;
Maine. 42.11; Maryland, $50: Massa-
chusetts, $50; Michigan. 42.S5; Min
O >
Missouri, 1856; Montana 49, Ne
braska, 1864; Nevada. BOOST; New
Mexico. 194.S4; New York. 1891;
North Carolina, 1875: North Dakota.
Oregon, 52-59: Pennsylvania. 1898;
South Carolina, 1920; South Dakota
3S9.03; Tennessee. 1855; Texas, 7O1.3O;
Utah 1909; Virginia. 1907; Wash
Wisconsin, 1896: Wyoming. PASS.
Total in forty-four states and terri
tories. 6C67-4O miles.
Last March we published a sum-
mary which showed that 1900 miles
of new railroad were then under con-
tract, and since that time contracts for
several thousand miles more have been
awarded But the work of building
has been seriously retarded by the two
causes noted-labor shortage and
scarcity of rails. The demand for
more workmen has been almost uni
versal.
On the line Of the Western Pacific
the contra ctors for months have been
advertising for 5000 more laborers.
but without much success. This road
is now under contract for the entire
929 miles from Salt Lake City to San
Francisco. and while over 100 miles Of
track have been laid on the eastern
end. work in Nevada and California
has been held back by the lack of
workmen- On many other important
extensions similar conditions have pre-
41r5
that much new mileage which had
been planned for completion this year
will have to be carried over into 1907.
Other roads which have been more
fortunate in securing the labor for the
work of grading have found it impossi-
BILE to obtain steel for tracklaying. and