Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-01-16
PLACE Of TEXAS f
IN RA|LROAOIN6
Comparative Figures Shown
BY Interstate Commerce
Commission Report

Austin, Tex, Jan. i5.-ln the MAJ
ter OF population per mile OF Texas
railroads. 1t would seen there are as
many methods OF conducting such a
calculation as there are moods OF III"
human mind, and every one who h
dulges in such pastime can show
excellent reason for following The
particular way used. The lnterstat
Commerce Commission. however, has
evolved a system covering this pa
ticular question and to those who
have interests at stake, or wish 20
make plain any particular line OF rea-
soning. an appeal to the interstate
Commerce Commission would appear
as the natural thing TO do.
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission. unfortunately. Is far behi'd
in it's work, or at least in getting
its findings to the public. For in-
stance. II has Just issued SIS stats
tics Of Railways In the United state
for the year 1909, whereas the sta
tistics for the year 1911 ought now
be out II everything is to be com
puied up to the minute.
On page II OF this last work --
19Oq-is a table that ought 10 be in
tcrestinc. educational and entertain
ing for those who are seeking the
truth regarding this question, which
owing to its many phases has almost
become mooted question. This
table shows that on June 80. 1909,
the average number OF persons per
mile OF railroad In the United States
was $40. Under the computation
followed in this table. Rhode Island
with 23a6 persons per mile was the
state with the largest population per
mile of ropd. wcile Nevada. with -
PERSONS per nile Lad the lowest den
sitv OF population on the same basis
Under this computation made hy
the Interstate Commerce Commission
Texas had a population OF ESQ per.
sons per mile Of railroad OF 'hc
g. states included in the table, six.
teen had less population per ril6
and % had greater population per
mile than Texas. Taking toe TT
Southern states (evcluding Missouri
~ is found that with the exception of
Florida and oklahoma, all o'hor
southern states had a creator pDNH
jntion per mile OF railroad t..r
TcNas
Under another computation Do Is
found that had the population of
Texas been large enough to &c a
the average number OF persons 81
mile Of railroad in the United stat IS
Il would have been 1.4s727o large
than WIS the case at the time. This
Is reached nv multiplying the mum
her of miles Of railroad in Texas thel
/ by 1910. which sum Texas lacked o
having the average number Of per
sons pc mile that prevailed In tn
/ United States as whole az th'
time the computation was made.
ANY student OF economies now
ever. is bound TO admit that the mum
ber Of persons per mile is only a con
/ dributing factor not a controllinI
one in the matter OF freight earnings
We're all the people OF Texas pro
duccrs of TONNAGE a different phas
would likely flavor this subject.
Il would be as fair to say tat an,
city that is served by five railroad
has population Of five time wha
is shown by the census as th.-e ar
railroads entcring such a city f" com
putting the number Ct persons ~
mile of railroad In this state Nor q
/ 10 tact that those raiIr01" tina
serve the most thicklN sc't.,' por
tions oi Texas are inylr.a." a.,
greatest revenue producers D." fac
some railroads that traverse O. Sc,
J.. ton Of Texas where intensified level
opment is Vet in its infancy shoV
greater net returns than can b.
shown bv some Of the older lines or
Grating In more thiOkly poNulateu
portions Of the state
Those who have given the Question
Of resources OF Texas deep s. iy al
firm that this state can support 10
less than 50 zoo miles OF railroad. ~
a basis OF $40 persons TO a. mile
when Texas is developed 20 10, oNtcn
where support viii be- aoOor I'd 4
such a mileage this state vi. tho
have a population ~ IS. l,00t
which happens 10 be- considerably g.
excess Of the figures discloscI by th
last federal census Texas is lot b,
hind In her railroad Development ma
tural resources and possibilities cor
sidered. though regret is fclf whe
such an Acknowledgement is on Re.