The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-18
RAILROAD NEWS.
American Lines Have Meant
Much to Country.
Point Is Made by Official of the
Pennsylvania.
IN SWISS CONGRESS.
A. j. County Tells Hearers His
tory Of Transportation.
Shows Growth of Operations.
Expense and Revenues.

Berne, Switzerland, July 1s-That
the development of the United States
has been more dependent upon its rail-
roads than any other single factor. was
a point made in the paper read at the
International Railway congress by A.
]. County. assistant to Second Vice
President Samuel Rea of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad.
In part Mr.. County said:
1.-THE expanse of territory occupying
5000 miles from the Atlantic ocean to
the Pacific ocean and 1900 miles from
the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
containing unrivaled agricultural ard
mineral wealth, was touched only in a
few places, and to a limited extent, by
the ocean, inland water and canal
transportation routes and but sparsely
inhabited before the advent of the rail
way. The railways were therefore
welcomed as the true pioneers and the
country devoted its energies to their
construction as the quickest, most di-
rect and economical method of bridg-
ing the great distance and overcoming
the adverse physical and climatic OBJ
stacles within its borders.
1.-THE railways quickly spread
throughout the country preceding, in
stead of, as in other new countries, fol-
lowing the settler and while the vary
have left great marks on the CONNER
cial arteries on which the country is so
dependent as we'll as on the fortunes
of those who invested their money
therein and those who directed their
operation, they have evolved well
rounded and prosperous railway sys-
TENS and serve population of be-
tween sc, 1000, 900 and 100000 people.
1.-The growth briefly sketched in de-
cades is as follows: 1880. % miles; 1870,
$500 miles; 1850, 5000 miles; 1860, 30 GOO
miles: 1870, So, 900 miles; 1880, $4,000
miles: 1870, $4,000 miles, and 1900, 1884,
345 miles.
ION June 30, 1909, there were 2ss 600
miles of railway, which in the year
ending on that date had operating
penses including taxes of $1,751 600. 600;
and net operating revenues of $74S,OOo,-
600.
Uniform Accounts Prescribed.
RAILWAY regulation was not long
confined to the state, authorities, for IN
the decade ending 1880 the question
was given extended consideration by
the national government, but the
necessity for national legislation was
not apparently ripe, and no decisive ac-
ton was taken until the passage in
1887 of an act to regulate commerce,
known as the interstate commerce act.
This act marked the first step of the
counting system for interstate railways,
by a commission called the Interstate
commerce commission.
MANY of the railway companies had
observed a general classification of
operating expenses, and the principles
and practices of railway accounts and
statistics had been formulated and
many of the railway companies pub
lished admirable reports for years pre-
ceding this act, but 1t is from the pas
sage of this law and the subsequent
notable expansion in railways and
their revenues, expenses and finances,
that the public for the first time sees d
definite foundation for the present uni
form accounting and statistical sys-
tenn. The provisions of the interstate
commerce act of 1887 regarding ac-
counting required annual reports cover
ing capital issues and payments;
physical characteristics; operating,
traffic and financial statistics; infor-
nation as to commerce commission the
right in its rates and fares, and the
contracts with other railways, and