602 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION IN 1887. 
During the latter haif of the past year many estimates were made 
of the number of miles of railroad that would be constructed during 
the year 1887. These estimates varied greatly, ranging from 9,000 
to 12,000 miles, but none were seen higher than 12,000. A detailed 
statement, published in the Railway Age, of Chicago, December 30; 
1887, shows that 364 lines, representing 42 States and Territories, 
constructed an aggregate of 12,724 miles. While these figures 
may be changed somewhat, they are no doubt as close approxima- 
tions as can be obtained at this date, and are sufficient to show the 
immense railway growth, especially in those States whose resources 
are as yet undeveloped. The number of miles constructed and not 
yet reported will no doubt swell the aggregate to nearly, if not 
quite, 13,000 miles. The statement showing the mileage by States 
is as follows : 
Number of lines and miles of tracks laid during the year 1887, exclusive of sidings 
and main-line track relaid. 
States. Lines. | Miles. States. | Lines. | Miles. 
| | 
meee Sg <a 
NTIS eR tetera slogans trot 2 S11 || Wisconsin te. bea seeneeeen. oa: 11 363 
Now, Hampshire... 2.050. 2 cle 1 28)|| Minnesota. GPs rece ueerenne 5: re 9 196 
Massa ChuRetts cic aaictele cos oe snes | 5 | Bo! ||| Dakotas... . - ciccmniemeeiiee ons. ss 4 760 
ino) PPNWeld oe Gene pnnber spades se 6 DH LOWS. 2 4:0:2% 265, siee cele eure cress i 352 
INGWaleMseye ts tedernerdcradeues | 2 15 ||: Nebraska ..........- Sirota yen < 28h 17 1,101 
eee ytyarde GES a Been, (octet 13 1255)| Wyoming 4.5; ncesesosect ~~ <2 H 3 Ne 
Efi Eehats ine SeanceiC Marin etem pera 1 1G) |) Monpana boy evnoctaace nig sie < = 6,e | a 1 
wee WWAne Inn 2 Seatac ne le chance 3 53 1 Kansas). 2 EE eee ee cas Se Ee st 
ifn eR See HOSE ema neBEEeadre 4 G4 MSSOUI oes rice ace meeeee =: vce ‘E 
North Carolina................+-- 10 184 || Indian Territory ......... Spo ee 5 499 
cout. Carolina ze a 104 || Arkansas {S25 o-teeee meer 4 : a 
eorgia ... 8 231 .|| Texas ...2...: 1 F 
Florida .... 10 193 ! Colorado ..... 9 818 
Alabama .. Y 15 515 || New Mexico . 1 4 
Missiscippiey career thence 5 99 || California.... 14 358 
MOUISIAMA NS. 2 core esac s eee 4 65;'||) Fdaho 0-2 oi rece seeieisiss sic ci 2 54 
MONNESSCE ras tiecot aks es nee | 10 6B) bala. 218. cesar ee eee stone 1 6 
IRON UNC yire bee eee ceca eee 8 | 168) || VAwizong,-155...2b eee tees ch oe 2 70 
OHM Se etrnce Sot eee ee 14 165.1] Oreron Actos eee as ee oa 4 48 
Michigan 2 JOU ec. aan | 18 | 700 || Washington..... 02... 3 108 
UURGUENTE Cocoa oes ASAE OUR ST Ae hee | 9 115 || == 
PUN Digyee conse cntnina cee eee | 12 By Totals < 38 Sesteranistas cies Stye 364 | 12,724 
The above figures show that the year 1887 was one of unprece- 
dented activity and far surpasses in extent of mileage any one year 
of railway construction in this or any other country. The greatest 
number of miles constructed in any previous year was 11,568 in 1882, 
which was thought would not again be equaled; but the above fig- 
ures, 12,724, although incomplete, show an increase of 1,156 miles, 
or 10 per cent., over 1882, and should these figures be increased to 
13,000 miles, which is not at all improbable, the increase would be 
1,432 miles, or 12.4 per cent. 
Nearly three-fourths of the railways constructed during 1887 were 
in the Western States. Dividing the country into two parts by the 
Mississippi River, we have 9,383 miles, or 73.7 per cent. of the whole, 
on the west, and 3,341 miles, or 26.3 per cent., on the east. Of the 
amount constructed west of the Mississippi River, seven States and 
Territories claim 6,934 miles, or 73.9 per cent., and are in order as fol- 
lows: Kansas, 2,070; Nebraska, 1,101; Texas, 1,015; Colorado, 818; 
Dakota, 760 ; Montana, 616; and Missouri, 554 miles. 
