Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-05-27

equally we'll promote the healthy csodtiou Of Tie
object engaged in, would not be prosperous and
m;oht he ruinous. So it is with Railways, Turn
nike Roads. and any Of those improvements with
which the face Of the country may be covered.
There is no question but common road Is bet
ter than an Indian path; a turnpike better than
this common road, and railway better than 4
turnpike, If there is business enough tosupport
a better road; but il there be not business to
uphold il, it is money cast away that night be
employed in something that increases general
prosperity; it of course raises the value OF money
obtained for more valuable objects; and as con-
sequence, this prodigality operates as dan'per
to the public devotcdness Of our citizens.
The elder citizens of Pennsy lvania may re-
collect, and the younger may refer to records OF
the facts, that as early as the year 1884. galaxy
of patriots started enquiry over the whole lace oil
our state, so as to exercise a judcious aPp'ica.
ton Of their small means to improve Road ana
Highway, where most wanted within ITS bound
aries; the capital in this country was then small,
and an opening being made BY the European
wars, it was wholly absorbed. On or about the
year 1890, the spirit of internal improvement
revived, and the Delaware and Schuylkill, and
Schuylkill and Susquehanua Canal was COM
menced, but that work proving too heavy for the
capital of the country, its stock, which had pro-
duced run for it on its first subscription as great
perhaps as the Norristown Railway stock a
month or two since, soon fell to nothing, and
it was abandoned
In the year 1901 or 'O2, Tdrnpikes became
popular i'm PENNSYLVANIA, and the Germantown
turnpike for the first five or seven miles had It's
stock filled and the road made, which proved 1t
good investment by paying about 9 per cent
per annum; and when the stockholders conclud-
ed to extend the turnpike farther contention
took place between them and the public for TAX
ING the increased stock. each contending for the
exclusive right. 1t turned out however, that
the business done would pay well for a few miles
of Turnpike. but little beyond certain limit;
and of the millions of dollars now invested in
Turnpkes they do not perhaps yield an average
of m0,e than two per cent. How far Railways
can be extended to produce fair profit, is yet to
be tried; but the public will recollect the whole
surface of the country can be covered with them
ifmenas are raised; and it is Onlv necessary Tor
one to be profitable to beset another and another,
as was the case with turnplkes, until they cease
to be productive.
THERE'S no question hut railways are superior
Improvement to turnpikes, provided the travel.
ling on them be sufficient to keep them in good
rcpair; but if it is not sufficient to effect this,
they are then not only inferior to turnpkes, but
even common roads, and utterly useless, unless
the rails and foundations are taken up and iald
on one side so as to make a common road OF tht
ground they occupied.
1t must not be forgotten that railway Is con
stantly decaying, whether used or not; and u
is familiar with most persons how long com
mon post in post fence lasts, and this Will bs
their Guide to the duration Of railway with {
wooden superstructure; and if it be made O
iron, il cQrrn,!es and rusts.