Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-24
SELECTIONS.
From the National Tntelligencer.l
RAIL ROADS AND CANALS.

OF representative IN Congress from fennsylva-
MIA, by publishing the following extract of letter
TO him from very intelligent constituent of his,
who has made the subject of the comparative adj
vantages of Canals and Rail Roads his study:
% The present idea that presses upon me, and
which, think. can be brought to BEAR if the general
curse, jealousy, be stied, is grand edge rail-
way. from Pittsburg, ~ or through Chambersburgh.
York, Lancaster, and West Chester, to Philadel-
phia, with branch from the neighborhood of
Gettysburg TO Baltimore. That each State shall
be mutually interested, in proportion to their wealth
and population from Pitisbuig to Gettysburg, or
near that place as may be agreed upon, and thence
each to perfect their branch their .ectve
capitals would use steam power entirely, be-
cause the road would pass through country in
which, for the whole route, fuel would be album
! dant and cheap, except small part between Lam
caster and Philadelphia.
calculate the route, making allowance for de-
viations, from Pitisburg to Philadelphia, at $40
miles, and though it is ascertnned that the rate of
travelling on the Stockport railroad in England is
eight miles per hour with cargo of ninety TONS
would be willing 10 fix the rate at six ,aes per
hour, and about seven,y-five tons cargo The
journey would, therefore, making great allowance
Tor timelost in ascending ed planes and un-
avoidable delays in obtaining water and fuel, be
performed in three days and three nights.
The allowance in England made in the elevation
OF the road, which is not found to affect the motion
OF the engine, is about eighteen feet in the mile.
This is fall that canal could not overcome adj
vantageously by iockage, yet, the railroad, i,
is of no consequence. Could the road be gradua E.
ted at rise of fifteen feet to the mile, from Phila-
delphia to the summit of the Allegany, the ridge
would be passed without being felt; but, that is
out OF the question, and there several ridges
that cannot be passed in that way, recourse must
be had TO stationary engines. But as these will
invariably be placed in situations Astounding in coal
or wood, the article OF fuel will be of trihing
slderation, and as the spare power of the engines
may be employed in manufacturing in many cases
TO advantage, the expense Of maintaining them will
| not be very important.
Surprising each stationary engine shouldonly over
come lift of fifty feet, but, in many cases. lift of
one hundred may be overcome with one engine, one
hundred engines would overcome 5000 feet of rise
| and tall, and on canal, allowing each lock 10
have feet lift it would require 625 locks to over
come the rise and fall and the occasional Dips
such as must occur in making canal between the
Susquehsnnah and the Schuykl, by way of the
valley OF Lancaster, would greatly add to the num-
Der OF locks.
| II the whole number of locks between Phalel-
phia and Pi,tsburg should amount to 700, of eight
ieet lift each, overcoming rise and fall together
OF $500 feet the cost of constructing locks es,ima-
ting them at 1000 dollars per foot, would be 5000
dollars per lock, and amount to 100000 dollars
! Tor that part OF the work alone
| Without taking into calculation the army Of
attendants that such a number OF locks would re-
Qnire, the immense expense Of yearly repairs from
breaches, fresheis, &c the damage done to farms
and mills, the total stoppage of trade in the win
ter, and the impossibiliiy of even two dis
tinct canals, conveying the trade of he west when
it is known and acknowledged that lock, in re-
guar business, cannot pass more than 40 boats
day regardless of all these, will take the mat
ter upon one point alone-The saving of time A
trip from Philadelphia 10 Pttsburg and return by
; the rail-road,' would occupy week. Thus the
! mail, and as many passengers might offer, would
be carried from Philadelphia to Pi,tsburg in days.
by canal 500 miles in length, with 700 locks to
pass, the voyage 10 Plttsburg and back, would oc-
cupy weeks. If cargo of IS tons be COW eyed
OH railroad by locomotive engine, with one
and one boy asattendants, in three days and
three nights 10 Philadelphia, which we must allow
to be equal to six men and six boys per day, and
like cargo be conveyed by canal in three boats
each having man and boy I'VE say nothing about
the horse-and twenty-one days required to
perform the journey, II Is equal TO sixty three
and sixty-three boys, that of human labour with
cut saying any thing of the army of attendants at
the locks, il is a saving of time and expense, in
favor Of the railroad, as IL is TO I26; and be-
| lieve, if had time, could make it appear that
throughout the whole, the railroad would bear the
!
particular tract of country.
OF the expense Of constructing such road,
! would not be willing to estimate it at much less
than 20 900 dollars per mile. Cutting through hills,
making causeways across hollow ways, building
bridges and culverts, and perhaps occasionally
boring short tunnel, must involve considerable
expense, independent OF tracks, stationary engines,
and inclined planes: But do not conceive that =
/ railroad, and all its attendant expenses, would
amount to half the cost OF canal TO obtain the
same object; and believe that the end would be
attained in onc-thrd the time, and that the cost OF
J conveying merchandise would not be than
one half the charge now demanded on Canals.
| In proposing this rail-rouie, do not conceive
that il would at all do away the necessity of inn
| proving our main rivers. The railroad would
| cross a country in which a canal is npracticable,
and il would interseet our Susquehannah at right
angles, rather aiding and rendering important
the Improvement of that river and IFS branches, by
conveying its coal and lumber into districts which
/ require them, and where canals for such purpose
would never pay cost Of construction II is only
by canal or railroad becoming the great thorough
fare of general and extensive trade, that either
can be profitable
! As il respects another point, ! may indulge a
little in speculation. do not think, nor did ever
think that the proposed canal to unite the Potomac
and the Ohio, will succeed. 1t may be made, but if
Penns ylvania does her duty, IL never can become
the thoroughfare of the Eastern and Western trade
Summit levels 5000 feet above tide water may be
attanable, but strongly doubt whether they can
be OF much utility; and If our preferable route
should offer, by which time and expense Of trans
portation shall be saved, such elevations will be
deserted. Pennsylvania has all this in her power,
and more. She has it in her power to wrest from
the state Of New York tho trade Of Ohio. The
same line which judiciously CONNECTS Pittsburg
and Philadelphia, secures the trade Of Ohio and
Kenfuckv. nav. Tennessse Indiana Illinois and