Page:The truth about the railroads (IA truthaboutrailro00elli).pdf/39

far less average capitalization than in any other country; which does more work in moving the commerce of the country per mile of railway than in any other country, and which has steadily reduced the prices charged to the railway-user in spite of increasing costs and complications in doing the business. The American railway-system of to-day could not be reproduced for a figure anywhere near what it stands for on the books. Monthly, daily, almost hourly, improvements have been made, and the railways are becoming seasoned and better adapted to the great work they have to perform. Go to any of the large cities and growing towns and try to acquire sufficient terminal ground to do even a moderate business. Not long ago in New York, an investigation was made with the idea of seeing what it would cost to get an entrance to the city and a moderate terminal area, from the northern boundary down to about Fortieth Street. One of the best real-estate agents in New York made a calculation, and he thought that a right of way down through Manhattan Island