CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



TOTAL LENGTH, CAPITAL, PASSENGERS CONVEYED, RECEIPTS, AND WORKING EXPENSES OF 

 RAILWAYS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 



In the following list will be found some particulars of the chief lines of railway, their mileage, cost, 

 profits, &c. exclusive of leased lines : 



The number of passengers in 1881 in the United 

 Kingdom was 622,423,000, and the total traffic 

 receipts ^63,873,000. In 1872 the passenger 

 returns were first class, 37,678,538, receipts 

 .4,319,185 ; second class, 72,459,562,^4,228,201 ; 

 third class, 312,736,722, ^10,318,761. 



England and Wales had, in 1883, 12,810 miles 

 of railway ; Scotland, 2930 miles ; Ireland, 2440 

 miles. To the total paid-up capital, England 

 and Wales contribute ^616,453,000; Scotland, 

 .94,808,000; Ireland, ^34,258,000. Of traffic 

 receipts, England got .54,322,000 ; Scotland, 

 .6,966,000 ; Ireland, ^2,585,000. In an average 

 year, the trains on these various lines travel 

 altogether a total distance equal to more than 7000 

 times the circumference of the earth, and more 

 than twice the distance of the earth from the sun. 



SHIPPING. 



The other 'great branch of the carrying-trade is 

 the mercantile marine. The progress of British 

 shipping since the era of free-trade began is not 



190 



less remarkable than the progress of the British 

 import and export trade indeed, it has been a 

 consequence, to some extent, thereof. In 1849, 

 the protective Navigation Laws were repealed, and 

 from that time progress has been very wonderful 

 In 1872, there were, of sailing-vessels in Great 

 Britain, 19,709, with a tonnage of 4,245,904 tons 

 register, employing 137,101 men. Of steamers, 

 there were 2845, with a tonnage of 1,515,704 tons, 

 employing 66,619 men. Comparing this with 

 the figures for 1849, when the protective Navi- 

 gation Laws were in force, 1872 shews an in- 

 crease of 4333 vessels, of 2,665,266 tons in their 

 capacity, and of 51,109 men employed. Further 

 comparing the figures shewing the number of 

 vessels, British and foreign, entering and clear- 

 ing at ports in the United Kingdom, from and 

 to foreign ports, it is seen that British shipping 

 stands highest. In 1881, the tonnage of vessels 

 entered and cleared at ports in the United King- 

 dom came to British, 41,543,259 tons ; foreign, 

 16,406,286 tons; giving an excess of 25,136,973 

 tons in favour of British shipping. It is also a 





