Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - IX. Means of Communication
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has been proofread at least once.
(diff)
(history)
Denna sida har korrekturlästs minst en gång.
(skillnad)
(historik)
Railways. This railway was constructed in 1857-62,
its length being 110 kilometres with the Russian
gauge of 1.524 metre; but instead of the calculated
cost of 88,000 marks per kilometre the cost was 14½
millions, or 131,000 marks per kilometre. No one
yet understood how to construct a railway cheaply,
and instead of obtaining a net revenue of 6 per cent.
it did not even pay its working expenses. The period
of liberalism had come, however, and the political
leaders of the country were not afraid to go on. In
1867 the Diet voted a loan of 18 million marks for
a line connecting this railway with St. Petersburg.
Part of the railroad would pass Russian ground, and
the whole was of considerable interest to St.
Petersburg. The Emperor Alexander wanted to maintain
the Russian gauge in opposition to the Finlander
engineers, and in order to facilitate the work he
granted a Russian State-loan of 10 million marks
against one-third of the net revenue. This sum has
lately been refunded to Russia. The line from
Riihimäki to St. Petersburg was constructed very cheaply;
it followed the moraine of Salpausselkä, by which much
work was saved. The line ran near the lake of
Päijänne and by a short connection to Saima. Its length
was 382 kilometres, and its cost only 74,000 marks
per kilometre; less than the estimated price. It was
finished in 1870; but had to be reconstructed and
extended in certain parts; so that the whole line
between Helsingfors, Tavastehus, and St. Petersburg,
with branches to the two other lake-systems, which
had originally cost 42 million marks, now reached a
total length of 519 kilometres and a total cost of 67
million marks, or 129,000 marks per kilometre. It
began by paying from 3 to 4 per cent., and now pays
6½ per cent.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
