566 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 
1907 was officially estimated at 3,000, exclusive of lines projected but not yet 
under contract. In 1906, when the lines in operation were 21,353, it was 
estimated by competent authorities that the railways under construction, 
and projects for extensions likely to be carried into effect in the immediate 
future, reached a total of at least 10,000 miles, while probable further 
ex:tensions of about 3,500 miles were under consideration. Further, it was 
estimated that the capital expenditure required to complete these schemes 
would be about 60 millions sterling. These figures may need amendment, 
but there are others representing ascertained facts which equally well 
illustrate the magnitude of the railway interests of the Dominion.1 The 
total capital invested in Canadian railways in 1907 was officially reported 
to be about 234,390,0001.; the aid given to railways up to that date by 
Dominion and Provincial Governments, and by municipalities, consider- 
ably exceeded 36,000,000/. sterling in money; the land grants from the 
Dominion Government approached 32 million acres, while the Provincial 
Governments of Quebec, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova 
Scotia had granted about 204 million acres. The Governments have also 
guaranteed the bonds of railway companies to the extent of many millions 
of dollars. The capitalisation per mile of railway lines owned by the 
Governments (amounting to 1,890 miles) is reported as being 11,4001. ; this 
is practically the same amount as that for Indian railways, that for the 
United States being 13,600/., and for New South Wales and Victoria about 
12,600]. For British railways the figure given is 54,7001. per mile. The 
freight carried by Canadian railways in 1907 amounted to nearly 
63,900,000 tons (of 2,000 lb.), which included about 14,000,000 tons of 
coal and coke, nearly 4,500,000 tons of ores and minerals, 10,250,000 tons 
oi lumber and other forest products, nearly 7,900,000 tons of manufactures, 
and 2,309,000 tons of merchandise. In 1875, when 4,800 miles of railway 
were in operation, the corresponding freight-tonnage was 5,670,000 tons ; 
so that while the length of railway increased nearly 4.7 times, the tonnage 
increased nearly 11.3 times. During the same period passengers increased 
from 5,190,000 to 52,157,000. For twenty-eight railways making returns 
the average revenue per passenger per mile was 2.232 cents, and for the 
four principal railways was 2.07 cents. For freight fifty-nine railways 
showed an average rate of 2.428 cents per ton-mile ; and for the five princi- 
pal railways it was .702 cent per ton-mile. The average distance travelled 
by a passenger was 64 miles, the corresponding figure for the United States 
being 30.3 miles. The average distance a ton of freight was hauled was 
185 miles, as against 132 miles for the United States. In Canada, as the 
official reporter remarks, there is a small amount of suburban railway 
traffic and a low density of population. The following table is taken from 
the official Canadian Railway Statistics for 1907 :— 
For each mile of Railway. 
. Square miles 
Population, of Territory. 
United States ° ° : 381 13.61 
United Kingdom . : 5 : 1,821 5.29 
France . é is ' - ‘ 1,590 8.46 
New South Wales. ? ; ; 686 146.09 
New Zealand . i 5 - r 368 43.42 
Victoria - * F . c i 360 25.89 
India , ‘ 5 ; ‘ 5 10,119 61.09 
Canada . ~ f : ° h 289 161.8 
1 Most of these statistics are taken from the valuable Report for 1907, pre- 
sented to the Minister of Railways and Canals by Mr. Butler, Deputy Minister 
and Chief Engineer of the Department. 
