Growth of railway corporations of the United States was typical for development of the industrial

Growth of railway corporations of the United States was typical for development of the industrial organisation in this country. Early railway corporations were small. Philadelphia, Wilmington and the Baltimorsky Railway, for example, included lines of four companies. In 1850 road connecting Albany and , included lines of seven companies. Within last fifty years the majority of the small companies united to generate corporations which operate now our big railway systems. Though last statistical message of the Interstate Commission of Trade - that within a year finished on June, 30th 1896 - contains financial messages from 1985 companies, there were only 782 'independent operational roads,' the rest from the companies to be the auxiliary organisations. This message shows, that forty four of these making firms have a cumulative distance which is equaled almost to the six tenth parts of full railway distance of the United States. Really, the statistican to the Interstate Commission of Trade declared in 1894 it 'more than 83 percent. From business of railways and 82 percent. From their income fall under the control less than forty associations of business men.'