American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-03-07
FOR THk wArcHMAN.

1t IS not little surprising to the writer, that
there are persons TO be found, if not among as,
yet in our country, who, possessing powerful tai
ents and much Information, are so under the gov.
ernment OF prejudice or other cause or causes, as
to place themselves in opposition to what appears
10 others the most obvious truths, and make use OF
the talents acquired conferred upon them, in pre-
venting the community from embracing ,hose
means Of arriving at desired end, that must in a
few months be made evident to all but those who
are determined not to see. Such writer it appears
to me. is /" "HAMILToN,'' who frequently addresses
the public through the medium of the newspapers
in Philadelphia, in opposition to Rail Ways And
although it would seem from what he writes, that
ne really supposes himself on the side OF justice
aud the public good, yet cannot doubt that even
he himself will yet be convinced that he has stood
opposed TO both but when he shall have made this
important discovery, would ask him how he is to
compensate the public for having patronized error,
and by tha, means prevented OF delayed That good
which the community are in search OF, and which
they are so desirous OF attaining, as soon as prac-
cable. II woutd be too much for me TO say that
" Hamilton" is arguing in favor OF what he knows
to be error-but feel certain that could not dare
to do thus-not only because that if my arguments
had any weight they would tend to an injurious
end but that should in time be compelled to re-
digest the sentiments that | had uttered; as ey
dence will grow up on every side, from the hands
OF PERSONS who have no sinister ends in view, but
who are really in search of the truth with respect
to this important matter.
And thus it is, that in the Freemsn's Journal of
the 90 h ult. have one of those ecidences, in a
private Rail Way erected in the city o! Philadel-
phia, by an individual for his own use This Rail
Way is stated to be about quarter of a mile in
length, and cost tmo hundred dollars which is a,
.he rate of about 500 dollars per mile 1t, however
is to be observed, that the road aUay between the
rails is foored aoith plank, that increases the ex
pense maerialiy-and perhaps the rails, which are
of wood and covered with rolled iron are not strong
enough for public Rail Road 1 however, am
fully persuaded that it will be quite possible to form
Rail Road chotiy Of ,Uood, that will be strong
enough to bear any pressure that need TO be laid
upon it and a0ithout stone supporters competent
to last from eight to twelve years, with reasona-
BILE degree OF care, by means of oil or pain,-the
former Of which l would prefer, if heavy coat
was laid on every year during hot weather, and
holes bored IN the supporters to be filled with oil al
the same time. Why then not make of wood
for this purpose? We build expensive Bridges O
wood, in confessedly damp situations, and Why moi
build Rail Ways of wood-that in case CT fracture
or decay would be easily repairedP Rail Way
so constructed, for two sets Of carriages, would
probably not cost more than one half the price of :
canal, and could be navigated at all of the
year, with treble the velocity that could DC admitted
on canal, and would require ocEs, no reservoirs
on dams, and would destroy no mill streams.
MENTOR.