Light electric railways

Although the building of interurban electric railways has been carried on very actively in the Central States during the last six years, a general survey of the situation shows that the territory served by such roads is rather limited, especially in states west of Indiana. The typical interurban electric railway of the Central States costs from $20 000 to $25 000 per mile of single track. The building of such roads has therefore been generally confined to such places as in the opinion of the builders have sufficient population and resources to yield an annual gross revenue which will leave from $1200 to $1500 per track mile to pay interest on the investment after paying operating expenses, maintenance, and depreciation. Without going into details, it can be said in a general way that a gross revenue of $3000 to $4000 per track mile per year must be earned at the start on a most economically constructed interurban road of the ordinary type, if it is to be a financial success.