i88 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



average charges per ton per mile during each, year on all freight 

 carried over their lines, and from these it is possible to present 

 an interesting comparison of present with former charges. Such 

 a comparison has the advantage that it gives the average of all 

 charges, and therefore presents the actual net result of all changes, 

 whether advances or reductions. It has the concurrent disadvan- 

 tage that it fails to take account of the large increase in long-dis- 

 tance traffic, which is naturally carried at lower average rates per 

 mile, and in consequence may show an apparent decline when 

 charges for exactly similar service have remained stationary. 

 The error from this cause is not, however, believed to be of such 

 importance as to materially influence the result. 



According to the last annual report made by the statistician of 

 the Interstate Commerce Commission, the aggregate transporta- 

 tion of freight by the railways of the United States during the 

 year ending on June 30, 1893, was equivalent to moving 93,588,- 

 111,833 tons one mile. Estimating the population at 66,551,571, 

 which allows an annual increase of one and a quarter millions 

 since 1890, this was equal to moving fourteen hundred and six 

 tons one mile per capita of population. 



Upon this basis the following table has been prepared, show- 

 ing the average cost of moving fourteen hundred and six tons of 

 freight one mile over important railways in each section of the 

 country during every fifth year from 1852, for which the average 

 rates per ton per mile could be obtained, and during 1893 : 



The foregoing statement shows reductions startling in amount 

 and distributed throughout all sections of the country. It is seen 

 that the Fitchburg Railroad now receives only $13.10 for an 

 amount of transportation for which as late as the year 1867 it 

 would have charged $59.19, while other railways show even greater 

 proportionate reductions. Similar data, including all railway 



