The Washington herald., 1909-06-06

ST. Louis. June 5.-When ST. Louis
makes the claim that the history Of the
continental development Of the United
States cannot be fully understood until II
is studied from the St Louis standpoint
argument on the question may be post
poned for the sake Of coming at once 10
the St Louis demonstration that the
census next year will show it still hold
ing its historic place as the central point
Of the greatest railroad development in
North America and hence in the world
The demonstration from the St Louis
standpoint is easy. 1t is enough TO point
te the totals IN the official reports OF in
crease in railroad mileage, as they have
been published from year 10 year In this
decade. and 10 compare them with the
totals Of 1900 and 1880. This is conclusive
as most Of those who are interested IN
such things know already. Some things,
however. appear easily from the st. Louis
standpoint. which may have the element
OF surprise in them even FOR experts
whose knowledge belongs TO a different
point Of view
Growing in the Southeast.
Some may be surprised TO find that the
greatest area Of development in steam
railroads has been in progress for over
ten years and is still IN progress in the
southern half Of the Mississippi Valley,
southeast and southwest Of St Louis,
with hOnOrs almost easy on percentages
OF growth between the five States SOUTH
east and the five southwest Of missouri
Including Missouri. these eleven States
n mileage focused
in the Union Station, ST. Louis, increas-
ing its totals and its percentages at rates
which insure this half of the MISSISSIPPI
Valley the worlds record in the develop
uent OF new steam railroad track during
the first decade Of the twentieth century
and the last OF the nineteenth.
The demonstration is complete and OBJ
vious when each State Of this group mas
written across its face on the map the
totals OF its mileage. as officially reported
for 1890. 1900, and for the beginning OF
1eas AZ these totals for the fiscal years
named are part Of the present grand
total OF the whole Mississippi Valley. its
steam development is incomparably be
vond that Of the greatest countries OF
Europe. with a rate Of increase which IN
sures the valley. as a whole. twentieth
century supremacy over Europe as a
whole. Reaching impartially over the
mileage OF the entire Mississippi Valley
81. Louis. as a city central TO this de-
velopment. has been quick - detect anc
10 encourage percentages Of progress II
railroad building both southeast and
southwest Of Missouri. recently greater
than that Of Missouri itself
Swinging 70 the South.
The position of Missouri. with its owr
mileage increasing from 6.142 miles. in 1890
10 S.1m in 1905. is the key 0f the history
Of Southern progress which will be re-
corded in statistics next year for com
parison by decades, with the present GER
tainty that the percentages Of Missouri
and Of the group Of States northeast anc
northwest Of 1t will be surpassed by Us
neighbOrs on the south.
AS the state in which railroad devel'
opment west Of the Mississippi Val
lev first began and first systema-
rized itself Missouri grew for three
decades with the growth Of States
on the northeast and northwest. during
a period when development in the north
ern half Of the valley was more rapid
than in the south. Hence when the time
came at last for the South TO begin
record-making, the old Valley States
north Of the Ohio and Of the Missouri
Kansas lines. having already almost
their maximum Of long distance roads
cannot now hope 70 compete with south
western and southeastern percentages, a:
these points of the compass Of American
progress appear when ii is boxed from ST
Louis as the central city Of the Mississip
pi Valley.
Oklahoma Beats All States
With over 55 miles Of track now fol
every q it had in 1900 and for every 12.6
inside its present area in 1880, Oklahoma
is so notorious for unparalleled percent
ages thatdt ought, perhaps, 20 be ruled ou
as beyond competition. Still. LouisianS
has almost doubled its mileage oe 2.SOI o.
1900. while its total OF 4 757 in 1908 is con
slderably more than double the l,7S9 mile.
Of Louisiana track in 1890 No one car
be surprised that Texas had 12,S7O miles
Of track TO show the development Of les
than eight years. with a gain Of nearll
1000 miles over 1900 when IL had 9,99l
Texas does not permit its progress to b'
overlooked long enough to become verl
surprising 10 those who have grown ac
customed 10 it. Some may be surprised
however 10 find Arkansas. Mississippi
and Alabama now with nearly twice tn
total track they had in 1890. Including
Missouri these eleven States have bull
the enormous total Of 1889 miles Of nev
railroad track In little over seventeen
years. This means that their total o
new track alone since 1890 now equals tn
total track in the Middle Atlantic State
in 1890 (22,SS4 niles and exceeds that o
ali the Atlantic States north OF the Poto
mac in 1880
Gulf states Grow Fnst
In its last statistical report, the Inter
state Commerce Commission gives as th
most conspicuous instances Of increase n
contiguous States. the Gulf States. Ala
hama, Florida. Louisiana. Mississippi
and Texas. with an increase in 1907 or ]. Q
miles in twelve months. Its group {
Of six. Southeastern States. including Flor
ida. increased from 1895 miles In 1901 Z
27.62s in 1907 The Southwestern total Il
two groups. taking in part Of Colorad
ana New Mexico, but excluding all MIS-
souri, north Of The Missouri River. in
creased from 81. .154 miles to 1856 in 81,
years Group 6. including the north
ern half OF Missouri. with the area be
tween the Missouri River and the ives
lire OF Indiana, had a 1907 total Of 50.Is
miles, with an average increase Of nearl
a thousand miles year for seven years
The southwestern mileage alone passe
that OF the German empire With
Continued on Page 2. Column 1.