The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-02
Canada Exceeds q. s. In New
Railroad Construction.
For First Time in History
Uncle Sam Not In Lead.
RAILWAY AGE STATISTICS
Interesting Figures on Condl-
lions Presented First Time.
Other Items of General Interest
in the Traffic World.

Ot0ef lCGmS OF UcuCI0A AHUCAS o'
in the Traffic World.
For tho first time in the history Oh
raflroadinR in the United states sonie
other country has exceeded tnls coun
try in the mileage of new railroad quiz
during the year, according 10 s.a.is N.es
complied by the Railway Age Gazetle
ord nub,is,ed in its annual review IS
sua in accordance with its usual GUS
+orp To show the extent Of railway pro-
gress during the year. rms conoi.io"
was nearly approached IN 1915 "hen
the railways of Canada built almost DIS
MANY miles as were built in this coun-
tr,, In 1914 the total mileage of new
railroad construction IN the Cnit n-
states was 1871, as compared with S.V'i
in 1919 Not only is the total for the
limited States only about haf OF tna'
for the year before, but 1t is the low
est for any year since $780, anu Only
about 25 per cent OF that LOT lSV1' .Ae
high record year. In addition TO the
rew ,ino built. there was constructed
sss miles of new second track ana III
miles of third track. In 1918 1858 miles
of second track was built.
The new mileage in the United States
was built by 165 companies, as com
pared with 23S companies build
reported from Mexico. While in
previous years the greatest mileage OF
new line has been built in the west, IN
1914 the state of Florida heads the nst
with 220 miles. The other states Will
over 100 miles of new line are Washing
ton. Idaho and California. At the close
of the year LOIS miles of new first track
vas under construction and uncOm-
pleted. The total for 1918 was 1'ozz
miles.
After new mileage built one OF the
best indications of the progress OF tne
railways during a year is the extent u
which they have added to their equip
ment, and the Railway Age Gazette mas
also compiled statistics showing the
number of freight and passenger cars
and locomotives ordered from the man
ufacturers during the year, and also OF
those built during the year. This latter
figure is likely to reflect the conditions
existing in the previous year when
much of the equipment actually pulit
during 1914 was ordered.
Freight cars ordered. ...-..-. Sl.264 l4o 90
: oornoti,,as ordered 1265 3467
Freight cars built .lO4,o4l zVsocf
passanger oars huilt 1851 1896
ocomotives buiIt - 22S5 SEP
The number of cars ordered is low
er than for any year since 1901, except
lyUS, when Only OS,OOv AICAShl SeAA
and 1919 passenger cars were or
dered. The number of locomotives
ordered was also less than for any
year since 1908.
On December 81, 1914, according to
. the Railway Age Gazette's compila-
ton, 21.O4S miles of road, with a to-
tai funded debt of $S3O,72S.79O and
total capital stock .f SABA. 599.73S.
were in the hands OF receivers. In no
year since 1895 has there been so
great a mileage in the hands Of re-
ceivers.
For the purpose Of obtaining an in
dication of the amount of unemploy-
ment that has resulted from the I'M
satisfactory condition of the railroad
business, with it's consequent effects
on the railroad supply business, which
has been one of the chief causes of
the general business depression, the
Railway Age Gazette has also OBJ
tai.-cl statements from the railroads
entering Chicago showing the number
of nsen in their employment on Aug
usr 1, and June 80, 1914. as compared
with the number employed on those
dates in 1918. 1t also asked the MEM
berS of the Railway Business aSSocia-
ton, including the principal COM
panies throughout the country that
make and sell materials. equipment
and supplies to railroads, for the
HuIHDcT VI iltI III lHSlT employment
on August l, 1914. as compared with
the number employed under normal
conditions. The date Of August 1 was
selected because tn European war be-
gan on that date and the figures as
of that date exclude effects attribut-
able to the war. A compilation of the
Information furnished shows the fol-
lowing
~ RAILROADS.
Number employed June 30. 1918. .s79 4S2
Number employed June so, 1914. =. .SO9. 929
Reduction Observation-Disclosures, 60 563
Per cent reduction. Observation-Disclosures. 10
Number employed August l. 1919 $50 761
Number employed August ], 1914 764S27
Reduction .:....:................ 1884
Per cent reduction. 10 q
SUPPLY COMPANIES.
IS companies employ normally. .2S1 7g5
Employed August l, 1914 1535y7
Per cent reduction. 80 1
"a companies employ normally. 1854
Employed in December, 1914.. 49, 2e6
Fer cent reduction. ...............64
"A companies reported reductions in force
In wages or in time without giving fig
ures.
3 companies reported no reduction in
force. "
2 companies reported increases in force