The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-01-20
RaIL-R0.aD REPORT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

and the Hon. the House of Representatives.
The Directors of Internal Improvement have
the honor herewith respectfully to submit such
further information upon the construction and
utility of Rail Roads as they have been ena-
bled to obtain, in compliance with a concur
rent order of the Houses of the Legislature, at
the last session. Considering the duty assign
ed them, by the terms of their commission, as
merely ministerial, in collecting and present
ing facts applicable to the practicabiity and
expedency" of adopting this particular species
of improvement, they feel constrained to con-
fine themselves to communication OF the re-
suit of such examinations as they have direct
ed, and of the practical operations which have
fallen within the scope of their inquiry, as evil
dence to others, rather than to offer observa-
tons, which are the effect of the additional in
formation thus acquired, upon their own minds.
They will not foIbear, however, to add an ex-
preston of satisfaction, that all their previous
antcipations of the value of such Improvements
are abundantly confirmed, and that they feel
an assured confidence in the correctness of the
calculations and estimates of the expense of the
construction, as well as the inducement to, and
promise of, advantages from their enjoyment,
which in former report they SO fully and un-
equivocaly expressed.
1t was deemed expedient to ascertain, in the
first place, how far the face of the country and
the manner of executing the work of construct
comparison, afford encouragement TO similar
undertakings in Massachusetts,. The Direc-
tors, therefore, sought to avail themselves OF
the experience which other States had already
acquired on this subject 1t was known that
Pennsylvania had engaged extensively in sim
liar enterprises after the best means had been
resorted TO, for direction in her plans of public
improvement. The people and State of Mary
land, also, had undertaken one of the greatest
enterprises of the age, in the Baltimore and
Ohio Rail Road, upon the most careful inves-
tigation of the principles and character of this
mode of inter-communication and upon critical
inquiries into its practical operation upon the
business and interests of society. Scientific
men had been sent to Europe, expressly charg-
ed to obtain all the information which the in
PRODUCTION and use of Rail Roads there could
afford, and the result had been decision in
both of the aforesaid States, in favor of their
equal applicability TO the circumstances and
occasions Of transportation in our own country.
With view TO the knowledge which might be
obtained by examination of the works which
were TINS in progress, and direct commune
cation with those who had their superintend
ence, a committee, composed ofone ofthe men,
bers of the Board. and the Engineer who had
been employed in the survey of the Providence
route, and whose intelligence and accuracy
were fully approved, were authorised to visit
the scenes of those improvements, and to make
the inquiries and procure all the information
which could be found useful, in the proceedings
which were to be had here. In the course of
the season, this Committee accordingly exam
ined the principal public works in the States
of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and have made
report of the result of their observations,
which the Directors herewith transmit, and re-
quest may be received as part of the execution
of their commission
1t will be seen that the State of Pennsylva-
tha, cote Of nfor
nal improvement. The exten: to which she is
at this time engaged in Canals and Railways
either on the public account, or in joint stock
operations of her citizens, exceeds 1900 miles,
at an estimated cost of Is millions of dollars.
The Committee found no degree of discourage
ment entertained, on account of the magnitude
of these undertakings, or from any obstacles
which had been presented to their accomplish
ment On the other hand, they met every
where on the routes of their location, the
strongest manifestations of the improvement of
country, by the progress of the works, and re-
ceived assurances of the entire dependence of
the interests of trade, manufactures, and agri
culture, upon their successful completion.
In the description of the Baltimore and Ohio
Rail Road, an explanation is afforded of the
great expense of its construction. The most
extraordinary difficulties are overcome, and ex-
cessive sacrifice made to conform to preferred
location of the road, in reference to its approach
to the city of Baltimore. High entertainments,
deep cuttings, magnificent bridges and viaducts
of solid masonry, faced and ornamented with
hammered granite, brought from great distanc-
es, the occasions of cost, which are rot
usually within the estimates of such improve
ments, and exclude all comparison between
that work, and others which any where else
have been projected Yet is the enterprise
still prosecuted with zeal and confidence of
success, which admits of no dstrust, on this
account, of the attainment of the ultimate OBJ
Ject. The considerations of encouragement,
which the promised advantages from its use
have presented, are strikingy applicable to the
circumstances of our own State, in relation to
an improved communication between the capt.
tai and the trade of the North River.
On the route of this road, the rails have been
laid for nearly two miles from the city, upon
which experiments Of the most satisfactory
character have been recently made in the rapid
passage of carriages moved by horse power.
The way Is graded, and prepared to receive the
rails for nearly % miles further, and great pro-
gress has been made upon other sections of the
route. The estimated cost of the whole work
exceeds, than two fold, that of all the
improvements taken together, which have been
proposed in Massachusetts,. The State is at
the same time engaged in another Rail Road
from Baltimore TO the river Susquehanna, the
first stone of which laid in August last,
and upon which much labor has already been
done. Besides all this, the mighty project of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is in a state Of
vigorous prosecution.
Through the fundamentally Of an applca-
ton by the President Of the Board to his Ex-
cellency Gov. Martin Of Maryland, the Direc-
tors were put in possession of much more mi
nute information, on the subject of the public
works in that State Among the documents
herewith transmitted to the Legislature will be
found an original communication from Colonel
Long Of the United States Typographical En-
gineers, and President Of the Board Of Engi-
neers employed on the Baltimore and Ohio
Rail Road, containing precise answers to def.
mite inquiries, which we're proposed in relation
to the progress of that principal work, and al.
&c IL e