If we compare the number of miles of railway in operation to that of the area in square miles of each country, we shall find that among the nations of South America the first place is no longer held by the Argentine, but by the little Eastern Republic of Uruguay, for in the former country the ratio is only 1.25, while in the second it is 1.67, Mexico ties with the Argentine, with 1.25. Here is an example of the strange conclusions to which statistical inquiry sometimes leads us, since it follows from the preceding figures that Uruguay, with only 1207 miles of railway, and 71,990 square miles of territory, holds apparently, from this standpoint, a higher rank than the Argentine.
The comparison of the mileage of the railways of each country to the number of its inhabitants is an exacter method. We find that for every 10,000 inhabitants the Argentine has 23.59 miles of railway, while Brazil has only 6.49, Uruguay 10.96, Chili 3.98, Mexico 7.12, and Venezuela 3 miles.
All this is explained in the following table, whence interesting deductions may be drawn.
The mileage of railway given for the Argentine should be regarded as provisional, for, unlike those European nations which have almost attained their uttermost expansion and equipment, there is still much to be done in the Argentine before the whole of its territory can be served. Certainly the principal lines are already constructed, but others will assuredly be built, which, apart from their immediate utility, will ultimately pay, owing to the manner in which they will increase the value of the soil which they will traverse.
The constant expansion of its network of railways is for that matter a necessity to the Argentine, as for all new countries, in which there are no roads fit for wheeled traffic. Rather than go to the expense of opening up such roads, which would be an unproductive investment, the Government prefers to favour the creation of lines of railroad which may in time become instruments of production.
Mileage of Railways in the Argentine Republic as compared with other Countries.
| Column Headings: | |||||||
| A: COUNTRY. | |||||||
| B: Area in Square Miles. | |||||||
| C: Total Number of Inhabitants. | |||||||
| D: Mileage of Railways in Operation. | |||||||
| E: Mileage of Railways. | |||||||
| F: Per 100 Square Miles. | |||||||
| G: Per 10,000 Inhabitants. | |||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | |||
| F | G | ||||||
| Argentine Republic | 1,080,460 | 5,792,807 | 1908 | 13,740 | 1·268 | 23·73 | |
| Brazil | 3,283,360 | 16,000,000 | 1904 | 10,390 | ·315 | 6·49 | |
| Uruguay | 71,960 | 1,103,040 | 1904 | 1,207 | 1·674 | 10·97 | |
| Chili | 294,800 | 3,399,928 | 1903 | 1,354 | ·464 | 3·98 | |
| Peru | 681,370 | 4,539,550 | 1904 | 1,184 | ·232 | 2·59 | |
| Mexico | 749,070 | 13,607,259 | 1903 | 9,698 | 1·263 | 7·12 | |
| Venezuela | 362,780 | 2,619,218 | 1903 | 523 | ·143 | 1·99 | |
| Bolivia | 482,240 | 2,180,710 | 1903 | 701 | ·148 | 3·20 | |
| Columbia | 437,180 | 4,501,000 | 1901 | 410 | ·093 | ·91 | |
| United States | 3,726,960 | 91,794,102 | 1904 | 213,770 | 5·882 | 23·28 | |
| France | 206,540 | 39,961,945 | 1904 | 27,365 | 13·735 | 7·12 | |
| Italy | 104,060 | 33,640,710 | 1903 | 10,016 | 9·058 | 2·97 | |
| Spain | 194,250 | 19,027,855 | 1904 | 8,601 | 4·219 | 4·51 | |
| Belgium | 11,330 | 7,238,622 | 1905 | 2,853 | 25·116 | 3·94 | |
| England | 121,020 | 44,587,106 | 1906 | 23,048 | 19·009 | 5·17 | |
| Germany | 208,180 | 60,641,278 | 1905 | 34,103 | 16·349 | 5·62 | |
| Austria-Hungary | 242,820 | 49,931,906 | 1905 | 24,288 | 10·074 | 4·87 | |
It is true, as we stated in the first edition of this book, that numerous demands for concessions permitting new lines to be built have been presented to and granted by the National Congress. But it is also true that only a very small number of these projects have been realised, as many of these undertakings were unable to find the capital necessary to flotation in the foreign markets; this has been true particularly of the English market.