American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-08-23
ron TIE wATcHMAN.

The load above alluded to- consisted OF % nusuei' SO
farmers neasue-ahich weighed at the mill 'nefg PUSH
els of 6Olb or $500 pounds 1t was brought hry-tree
miles, by FIVE horses, in common farm wagon, ou u Ia
ther superior quality the horses were excellent
readily as the burden for each horse amounted
10 1880 hounds Beside The weight Of the wagon BAGS &c
The time required bring this wheat to market ana
the wagon to return home would be apou, y "a, anu
, r me i i rresa,med : amounts TO SIS 50
If we allow dollar day to the wagner - o.
for his wages and boarding, it will be W
For the wagon so cts. per day , 20
Toll, coming and returning coz
81 6sI
we have 763 remaining the earning OF horses inciuug
the cost of their feed for the 81 days before mentioned
which nearly equivalent to AS cents day lot each morse
and deducng the cost OF 81 days feed from tis SUM-
pretty evident that nothing be Eff And hence we
have ascertaned that wheat cannot be transported py
wagon for distance of 33 miles, by the usual hetaous,
and on common roads, at lower rate than ieeh cents
bhe even when the wagon and horses owned by the
grower of the grain But by hired team II esluay es
dent that mus, for the distance OF 40 miles, as s'
ted in an essay upon Railways published IN the Watch
man OF less than 20 cents buse II is also to be re-
membered that this wheat was brought to market al le
when the roads remarkably good IN consequence OF
the long continued dry weather In conversation WIN tne
driver Of the aforesaid team, the writer was informed that
the whole of tire of his wagon was forty dollars ana
that it would last would be worn out, IN one year t
complete Of 8eeted shoes tor his horses would WIN
occasional repairs last year alsoalhough mus was
common farm wagon only, and not driven exclusively upon
turnpike roads From this data may decidedly conclude
that on turnpike road both the tires and the shoes would
be completely out within the year
1t has long been the opinion OF the %reT that although
such roads convenience 10 the community MAJ .ey
are most expensive and wastef species OF road and from
which the public sustain great and losses every
year. =, =
We shall attempt to estimate the waste and loss Of
IRON and steel in the formation Of turnpike road as that is
impossible but merely sa, that from the time OF quarry
ing the and breaking up sufficiently small TOT me
purpose Of road, the loss must be very great indeed as
all the iron so consumed absolutely hst to the pubic, ~
consequence Of being reduced to particles 50 small that
they can he recovered. -
we shall therefore ourselves in calling the eX
pense of turnpike road $4,000 per mile which is about
what they cost in the neigbohood OF this borough; and
as none of hem pay shall consider the whoe
sum as unproducve and the interest annually lost 10 the
community The account then will stand nearly follows
First cost Of the turnpike road per mile, s5O00, which
at annual interest OF PER cent IS 80
Collection Of toll, repairs and expense OF gates and
meeting Of Directors, &C., per mile, per annun, 81
$500
That is that eyery mile Of turnpike costs the public
annually, three hundred dollars or near it.
And for every wagon steadily employed on slicha
road in tire for the wagon, and soemgtor the horses 81
Making The whole expense per annun, $3.50
at the time that horse steadily employed on sci
road for his owner clear of expense twenty
five day-which may be called compensation III all
Ii these views be cunscnant with the facts and the VIII
ter foresees no material objection theit n.st be evi
dent that turnpike roads Of aremarkaby wastei'i
character to the public and yet roads are essential Il
the wants and comforts of country and II rs absonte,
necessary that should possess hcm-oherwse ma,
be in the situation that they in ,e State Of Colombia
Souh American where for want :" good roads, they SLIM
hnf 6arres Of -four the back OF horse mule
and supply the consumption Of the Of Caracas ION
the port Of 1ampico. 1t then worth while to conse
attenlvey what advantages may be derived from anoe
kind of road adapted 10 the wants and convenience OF on
country By The best evidence that be obtained rcla
tive Railways they evidently well adapted TO th
wants OF this counrytrom the cheapness of their con
,f,Io.
the use Of hem-for which see preceding essay publish
ed III the Waterman.
We have before SEEM that bring 90 bushels of whea
distance of SO miles, will cost at the lowest price trans
portaton by wagon, 1873 dollars and yet at h
price, il will scarcely allow any COMPENSATION for the
the horses We will now endeavor to institute compar
son between turnpike road and railway, and asceIai
as far evidences will permit, the advantages tina
would result the public by substituting for the turnpk,
the rail road ageeaby 10 the estimate contained in til
essay before alluded to.
The writer of that essay says that wheat may be
ted railway from Lancaster 10 Wilmington for
per bushel.
That We may make sufficient allowance for errors,
will call the cost Of transportation, two cents per bshe
and calculate as follows
bushelis 80 500
Taking the hire of one horse 10 draw ibis load at
the price before stated, CAS- for q days) $40
Hire Of the wagon 81 days so cts IL
Wagoners wages aud boarding for q days, LOO, is %
e Toll S
i Making "a 9
This last calculation would make the of bringing 10
bushels of wheat from Lancaster Wilmington, near fl
per bushel however to be noticed that 10
bushels of wheat will make but l q 1padior one hois
that horse being capable good level railway of draw
" ing 100 bb Of fo which is equal weight to 355 busi
I els wheat reckoning the Dbl of -four and the cak 81
{ pounds, and the wheat at 90 pounds per buslel.
If then the transportation before 495, and IS
bushels drawn, cts. per busel it will be 81 10
which is considerably under two cents per blshel Ii
s that bushe of wheat may be brought from Lancaster
e Wilmington for two cents, thereby making saving Il,
owner of the grain between the expense it preseI
stands and the new price, of 10 cents per bushel--a diff
e renee sufficient to give the railway not only great prot