Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1886 — THE IRON HORSE. [ARTICLE]

THE IRON HORSE.

The Enormous Bailway Construction of the Present Tear. The railway construction for this year is something enormous. During the first eight months of 1886 there have been laid 3,475 miles of main line track, not including sidings, etc., in thirty-six of the fortyfour States and Territories, upon 163 different lines of road. During 1885 there were only 3,131 miles of road built in the entire twelvemonth. This year the average has been, since July 1, nearly 30 miles of new’ track for every working day, and on 95 of the 165 lines mentioned work is still in progress. In addition to this, tracklaying is about to commence on a number of other lines which have the grading about completed. It is estimated that the total mileage for the year will largely exceed 6,000 miles, or nearly twice that of either 1884 or 1885. Kansas leads the van in activity in railway building this year, some 600 miles of rails, on eighteen different lines, having already been laid, and. the work continuing with unabated vigor. Texas has built some 300 miles, and Wisconsin 325 miles. Nebraska has put down 272 miles and has enough roadbed in a. nearly completed state to add several hundred miles to this before the new year. Dakota has 240 miles of new lines, and will triple or quadruple this before snow flies. F lorida leads the Southern States with a new mileage of 225 miles of track, which will be largely increased. The Railway Age has the following interesting table, showing the number of miles of track laid in the various States and Territories from January 1 to September 1: Miles. Miles. Alabama 9 Minnesota' 117' Arizona 20 Mississippi 68 Arkansas 25 Missouri 48 California 120 Nebraska 272 Colorado 24 New Jersey 25 Dakota 240;New York 29 Florida. 225 North Carolina 35 Georgia 51 Ohio, 18 Indian Territory 10 Oregon ...; 6 Illinois 189 Pennsylvania 68 Indiana 45 South Carolina 82 lowa 135 Tennessee 10 Kansas 599 Kentucky 39 Virginia 23 Lfinisiana 9 Washington Ter 112 Maryland.... 21 West Virginia 13 Massachusetts 3 Wisconsin 325 Michigan......... .. 77 Wyoming.;... 83 Total in 36 Territories. 3,475-