The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-05-26
AREA CONSIDERED,
LEADS UNITED STATES
Second Ia New Companies
Chartered During First -Four
Months Of 1910

Oklahoma held sixth place among
the states and territories OF the Unit
ed States IN 1909 In railroad construc.
tion. She Was Just / IL miles behind
fifth place She is second among the
states and territories OF tho Union IN
new companies chartered during the
first four months OF 1910.
Texas leads the country in both
shuwings Taking area into consider
alton, Oklahoma leads Texas and the
entile United States.
The figures supporting these state
ments are fresh from the press, Sla
son Thompson of Chicago, railway
statistical expert, has just issued a
book entitled Railway Statistics IN
the United States,' In which he pre-
sents complete figures on railway
construction for the calendar yea
1909, and the Railway Record, a rail
way publication, published IN ChicnF
60 presents figures on new compan-
les and mileage chartered during the
first four months OF 1910, its flgnres
rep. esenting sixteen states, mostly III
the South whore the railway activity
of the country centers at this time.
Slason Thompson prefaces his book
with the explanation that government
railway statistics for the past few
years seem TO have been prepared
with the purpose Of mlsleadlng the
public as to the financial results OF
ailway operation aud that his work
Is issued for The purpose OF putting
/ no tIa ha va
deductions from the figures they re-
port to the Interstate Commerce com
mission II gives construction mile
age for the various states, but does
not discuss financial results as to the
states separately
Railway Construction In 1909. 80.
II shows that forty-two states and
territories built railway during 1909
The total mileage constructed was
i,040.6, or an average OF S6.2 miles foi
the states showing any construction
Taking all states and territories Into
consideration the average for the year
was S0.S miles.
Oklahoma Is credited with l63:
miles. which shows this state to have
built 81 more miles in 1909 than the
average for the states and territorlel
showing results, and S24 miles moi'
than the average OF all the states. o
the forty-two states showing construc
tion 3G show less mileage than Okla
homa. Five states show more. max
ing Oklahoma sixth on the list
Minnesota built 1657 miles agains
OklahOmas 1852 miles.
This showing doubtless will be
, matter Of surprise to many Oklahom
citizens, who have supposed that Oh
lahoma'g strict regulation laws ha
subjected this state 10 untayorabl
! comparison in this particular. A iu
, ther interesting feature OF the con
parison Is In Texas, with regulatio
measures IN many respects identic;
with those Of Oklahoma, leads III
entire country. furthermore, II teri
torial area be taken into consider
tion in the comparison, Oklahon
! leads Texas.
Oklahoma In Front Rank.
The other states showing more l9I
+ mileage construction than Oklahon
are California, Washington and n
vada. All the territories, lnclndr
Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and Il
District OF Columbia. show new Inil
age In 1909 Although conditions
h Arizona and New Mexico are invitiI
a. for railway investment, there bell
a much agricultural and mining dew
y opment and no strict regulation
:. operations, and although their co
bined area is more than three tim
!, OF Oklahoma, this state shows l9
- construction double that Of ArizO
and New Mexico combined +
z, states that show no construction
- railway whatever in 1909 are Mas
chusetts Vermont, Delaware, Rho
Island, Connecticut and the weste
states Of Iowa, North Dakota a
N South Dakota. Oklahoma's reco
II for 1909 Is just seven miles less tn
that of Nebraska. Ohio. Utah. Wyo
ing, Missouri Indiana, Illinois a
IN Idaho combined.
at in the matter of railways project
y and chartered during the months
n. January. February, March and Apl
g. 1910. oklahoma again much more III
holds he own The Railway Reco
n. published In Chicago presents on
r.. first page In It's issue OF May IL,
i. statement showing construction
d tivity as indicated by roads charter
Cd up TO May tnls year. ne 81.
ment includes sixteen states OF !
On South. including Missouri and Ok
al homa The paper comments upon
N. showing hy saying 'All are entire
new enterprises, none chartered