Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1917 — Railroads In Germany. [ARTICLE]

Railroads In Germany.

The .first railroad in Germany was opened to traffic SI years ago—December 7, 1835. Railroad building in the German states made little progress until the'middle of the century, and it was noUuntll after the formation of the empire that the great era of railroad construction commenced. All of the lines built since then have been designed to facilitate the movement of troops in case of war. and the facility with which the kaiser’s forces have been moved from one front to another in the present struggle has been a result of this foresight. At the outbreak of the war Germany had about 38,000 miles of raib road, of which 35,000 miles are owned by the state. Germany’s ally, Austriahas about 28,000 miles of lines, with 22,000 miles state owned. In the matter of passenger rates Germany leads the world in cheapness, the first-class rate being 2.74 cents per mile, secohd Ciass T. 74 cents, and third class 1.16 cents. The great majority of middle class Germans and many of the wealthy and noble classes usually travel second class.