OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, OF THE State of Pennsylvania, FOR THЕ PROMOTION OF THE MECHANIC ARTS. DEVOTED TO MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING, THE ARTS AND OTHER PATENTED INVENTIONS. Reporter of American Patents, C. M. KELLER, late Éxaminer, Patent Office, Washington. THIRD SERIES. VOL. XVIII. WHOLE NO. VOL. XLVIII. PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, AT THEIR HALL. 1849 JOURNAL OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE MECHANIC ARTS. JULY, 1849. CIVIL ENGINEERING. Contributions to Railway Statistics, in 1846, 1847, and 1848. By HYDE CLARKE, ESQ. No. 1.-Passengers and Fares. Having published an analysis of the railway returns for 1845, I have taken the earliest opportunity after the appearance of those of 1846 and 1847, of giving a similar analysis of them, under the same title of "Contributions to Railway Statistics," which I hope may prove equally acceptable to practical men as the former series. The following are the totals of each class of passengers in the years ending 30th June. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1st class, 4,875,3321 5,474,163 6,160,354 1847. 6,572,714 Altogether, 27,763,602 33,791,253 43,790,983 51,352,163 The amount received for each class, in each year, was as follows: The yearly increase in numbers on each class of passengers, is as follows: The yearly increase in money on each class of passengers, is as follows: 24 It is to be observed that no deductions can be drawn from these figures, as the Railway Department returns are defective and informal. The gross returns in each year from passengers, goods, &c., were as follows: The capital expended on railways has been likewise given by Mr. Hackett, from which we can learn the amount expended in each year. 1842, £52,380,100 whole capital, expended. The total amount of railway expenditure from 1842 to the end of 1847, was £57,548,700. The total amount of railway income in those years, has been: Of course the whole of this income cannot be treated as real capital, no more can the whole of the expenditure; but it is a significant fact, that while the whole expenditure has been £57,548,700, the whole income has been £38,884,181, or more than two-thirds of that amount. This is deserving the attention of those who direct their attention towards the subject of railway capital. In "Irish Wants and Practical Remedies," by Humphrey Brown, Esq., M. P., (p. 63,) is given a table of the estimated passenger and goods traffic of several English lines, as given before the House of Commons. This I have extended. The results are as follows: In Mr. Brown's book on a length of 702 miles, the same increase of per centage is shown, namely, 160 per cent. on passengers, and 170 on goods. The whole traffic in 1845 was 33,791,253 passengers, and of goods, &c., 11,600,000 tons. Supposing the proportions to be the same, the number of passengers carried in 1845 more than was provided with means of conveyance before the existence of railways, was 20,800,000, and the number of tons of goods conveyed was 7,200,000. Thus the railways not only accommodated the full number of passengers for whom conveyances already existed, but carried the above enormous number in addition, besides a great quantity of goods. It will be found that this calculation is, however, far from representing the amount of accommodation now afforded. Taking the latter returns, where they are available, we shall find the increase still greater, as in 1846, for instance: The lines for which there are separate returns in 1847, are as follows: |