Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-11
DOMESTIC.

The Report of the Directors of the Manchester
and Liverpool Railway has been lately published
in this country, exhibiting very great cost incur
red in the construction of that work. We made
some comparison few days ago, showing the cir
cumsisnces which swclled that cost and that these
circumstances did not exist in this country. a
writer also, in the Philadelphia Aurora, under the
signature Of S. has written a reply to some re-
marks by" a Native of Pennsylvania in that
paper, IN which the latter, from the presumed
great cost OF railroads generally in England. en-
deavours to dissuade his fellow citizens from their
adoption IN Pennsylvania. ). states that railways,
so far from not having their practicabeness and
utility known in England, exist there TO the num-
Der oil ZOO They are generally Of limited extent,
though some extend 25 miles,a one, the Stock
ton and Darlington, with its branches, nearly 10
miles. Though but recently introduced on the
Continent, many are there projected, and some
completely executed. The Brezesk railway is
nearly 800 miles in length As TO the cost no rail-
road hitherto made in Great Britain has cost fifth
Of the sum named by the"Native PENNSYLVANIA
The average cost o! canals in n large section of
that country, has been estimated by eminent en-
gneers to have been nearly three tines greater
per mile, than what has been expended per mile
on the railways. AS the canals constructed in
the United States have cost much less than SINH
lar works in Great Britain, it might be presumed
That the same causes would produce similar di-
minution OF the cost Of railways; and accordingly
The railways completed in progress in America,
show this 70 be the fact We omit to spec city the
instances. = has very truly stated that 60 no per-
son acquainted with the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road doubts that from Baltimore TO the Potomac il
viii be finished at the estim ate of the eneinee
Touching the cost of the Manchester and Liver
pool railway IS states that that road passes through
several PARIS, and heDce the vast cost Of the
l2nd-Ihe mere gates and fences, too, whose cx-
pense in this country is not worth ue u,ioning cos,
ti6,lol, besides the compensation fer damaged
houses. The vast expense and difficulty of pro-
curing charter from Parliament, (the cost was
nearly f4O,OO0) were caused by the combination
H. mn
writer mentions the existence and utility of Rail
roads in the mountainous districts Of Wales and
states his conviction OF their general superiority
10 canals. Our own experience, however is as
good as that OF England. Our contracts are taken
within the estimates, and completed with pro-
ut to the contractor. Though brick be no speci-
men oil house, one mile of railway over Us Diff
cult ground as any to be encountered, shows sufii-
GENTLY the extreme cost OF any other mile of rail
way. We believe that sufficient data for pretty
fair estimate of the cost along the whole route of
the Baltimore and Ohio Rail road, are already in
the possession OF the directors OF that enterprise.
Bah. finer.
The circular brick Tower erecteJ by The pho,
nix Company for making Shot, at the corner of
front and Pitt streets, has reached the intended
elevation, being two hundred and thirty four feet
'hree inches high from the pavement. It's diam
eter at the bottom IS forty feet and at the top TWEEN
y. The stone foundation wall is ten feet thick al
the bottom, and six at the top. The brick work.
winch commences at the surface, is five feet and
nan thick oil which thickness il continues for the
height OF nearly fifty feet when i. dninishes four
inches In every story, being twenty inches thick
at the top OF the parapet, three feet in height,
winch crowns the summit. This huge structure
which Is an excellent piece of brick work, was
commenced an the md of June, and finished OH
the 18th OF November, ard was built without
scafioidmg The parapet at the top is white, ana
somewhat resembles in lis appearance a inura
cTo"h' and az the tower IS we'll proportioued the
whole edihce is an ornamental {. ature in the pros
pee, OF the city fib.