JAPAN
that in 1888 the total length of lines in operation was only 318 miles, of which 205 miles had been built by the Government and 113 by private enterprise. Thenceforth the work of construction proceeded more rapidly, so that the average annual addition made to private lines until the close of 1899 was 208 miles, and that made to State lines, 40 miles.
The total length of lines open for traffic at the end of 1899 was 3,639 miles, of which 833 miles had been constructed by the State and 2,806 miles by private companies. The expenditure on account of State lines had been 70,000,000 yen, in round numbers, or 84,034 yen per mile; and that on account of private lines, 187,000,000 (including debentures and loans), or 66,286 yen per mile. The difference in cost of construction is explained by the facts that portions of the State roads were built before experience had indicated cheap methods; that extensive works for carriage building, repairs of locomotives, etc., are connected with the Government lines, and that it has fallen to the lot of the State to undertake roads running through districts that present exceptional engineering difficulties, such districts being naturally avoided by private companies. The number of passengers and the quantity of goods carried over all the lines during 1899 were 102,115,942 and 18,820,034 tons, respectively; the gross earnings amounted to 38,219,272 yen, and the working expenses to 18,833,217 yen, leaving a net profit of 19,386,055
102
