100 years ago

Railway Age, May, 2003

(MAY, 1903)

ELECTRIC RAILWAY PROGRESSES

The census bureau this week issued a preliminary report on street and electric railways which gives an impressive idea of the growth of electrical transportation, since practically all other motive power for street railways has been abandoned. In the 12 years since 1890, the length of line has increased from 5,783 miles to 16,648 miles, or 187.85 per cent, the length of single track from 8,123 miles to 22,589 miles, or 178.09 per cent; the number of passenger cars from 32,505 to 60,240, or 85.48 per cent, and the number of fare passengers from 2,023,010,202 to 4,813,466,001, or 137.94 per cent.