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Show RAILROAD BUSINESS. The railroads are undoubtedly the best index to lh hiisimes ol the country Lines are run ail r.'ver the republic, into every state and all of i tho territories v.il'n twoor tbreeexcep tions, and during tho last few years freight and passenger traffic has been almost exclusively over rail. Thisj being the case, the railroad returns, show the degree of prosperity that, exists. Poor's Manuel is out showing the operations during tho year 1877, from which it appears there has been a lamentable tailling oft in business. ! The total earnings on 74,112 miles of railroad in the Cuited SttteB, amounted to 1472,909.272, a decrease of $24,040,687 as com-; pared with. 76. Tbe decrease is confined to no section, but i distributed throughout the whole country. Tbe middle sUtes, however, have suffered most, the falling off there being attributed to the depressed condition of the coal trade, and the decrease of travel. It is claimed tbatj en some ol the western roads the' amount of frtiht moved was greater than iu TO, Hie smaller returns being 'due to the luwr rates. The divi-jdsnda, divi-jdsnda, of course, have been less than I in '76, in proportion to the earnings tthrt8um paid iiionuuiioi; to $56,556,-312 $56,556,-312 aainai ffiS 039.663 in 1S76- The' Fennpylvauia railroad paid the largest dividend, bi-ing fd. 54 .0,000. The roads of the weut and the south have, suflered le than those of the other sections. The indications are, during i the first hall of 1878, that the depression depres-sion this year will bo even greater than heretofore. |