Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1916 — United States Leadership. [ARTICLE]

United States Leadership.

The overwhelming leadership of the United States as a railroad nation is shown more clearly in a comparison of individual countries, for after its 254,769 miles (including 653 Alaska), Gerriiany is second with only 39,513 miles, while European Russia is third with 38,563. ' Then follow in order, British East India, 34,572; France, 31,737; Canada, 29,233; Aus-tria-Hungary, 28,641; Great Britain, 28,385; Argentina; 20.593; Mexico, 15,806; Brazil, 15,491; Italy, 10,933; Spain, 9,517; Sweden, 8,984, and Japan, 6,81'1. In relative growth, however, the United States has not held its own, for while the world mileage in five years increased 9.6 per cent, our railroads increased 7.7 per cent. This, however, exceeds Europe’s growth of only 4.9 per cent. The Americas, as a whole, increased 10.9 per cent in mileage in five yearr, while Asia increased only 8.8 per cent. Africa takes the leadership here with a growth of 32.3 per cent, the high spot being German East Africa, with 209.3 per cent. Australia’s mileage increased 16.8 per cent.—Railway Age.