Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-06-01
Dahl Paper So per a,,r.,nn- Country Paper S..
WEDNESDAY MORNING. JUNE 1.>lssl.
CANALS AND RAIL ROADs-No. Nv.

Der given the readers of the Gazette an articeon
this subject, from the Mauch Chunk paper,
and now, instead Of pursuing it with any obser-
vations Of our own, adopt an able essay which
appeared in the National lntelligencer, by "a
friend to Canals as well as Rail Roads" This
will be found worthy Of an attentive perusal.-
We nee,l not attempt by any additional argu-
nents to strengthen the positions here assumed:
In support of one Of the most currentiusions Of
the day, that Rail Roads are every where, and
under all circumstances better calculated than
canals for the safe and economical transportation
of persons and property, the fifth annual re-
mort Of the Liverpool and Manchester Rail Road
Company, dated the 2Sth Of March, 1881, is
now going the rounds IN the newspapers in the
United States.
To show with how little consideration con-
iirmed prejudice, when sustained by interest,
elides over facts, which should be destructive
Di its conclusions, an individual, who lays claim
10 no scientific knowledge Of the subject, invites
the public attention to few of the facts con-
tanned in this recent peport Before | make any
special reference to them, allow me, Messrs. Edi-
tors, to declare my appreciation OF Rail Roads in
situations where canals cannot be constructed with
adequate supplies of water, and where the trade
aud population OF country are sufficient to war
rant their application to the carriage of persons
and property. go step farther, and although
l do not believe that, III any case the tranporta-
ton Of heavy and bulky commodities by Rail
Roads can be effected OH cheaper terms than by
Canals, can readily conceive state Of socie-
ty to exist as IN certain parts OF Europe, and per-
haps in Asia also, wherein the transportation Of
persons, With great celebrity, may be au object Of
sufficient Importance 10 warrant the construC-
ton Of Rail Road, although canal between
sha ho ica
nish a cheaper transit OF property.
After having made these concessions to Rail
Roads, allow Inc to recur tn the chief purpose of
this communication, which is to call the public
attention to the late expose ct the cost OF the Lii
yerpool and Manchester Rail Road, and of the
price Of transportation upon it, both for persons
and commodities
1t now appears that an act of parliament is ex-
pected and required by the necessities of the LII
verpool aud Manchester Rail Road Company, to
raise the amount Of their capital stock to 9S65,
900 Sterling This sum, turned into American cur
rency at the par Of exchange within the fraction
of cent, SIS, 844,445 So, or about 81, COO short
Of the round sum Of 100000. If the present
rate Of exchange be taken into the account, the
capital of this company will much exceed that
amount. As this rate Of exchange is founded
chiefly if not solely. upon the relative value Of
the different metallic standards of England and
the II. States, a relation much more stable thar
the mere balance Of trade, ~ilI compute ab u
the half OF it, and put down the cost of tots work,
including all its Incidental expenses, at four
millions of dollars. From this sum | will also
strike of one fifth. 100000 for the expense of
obtaining the Charter of the Rail Road Company,
and for the subsequent cost Of ground for the site
OF the road, and its necessary appurtenances, for
cars, engines and the various experiments which
have been made with them, at some cost no doubt
20 the proprietors. There remains after this
deduction, IS, 200, 900 for the cost of SO miles
of Rail Road, connecting the second seaport In
Europe and one Of its largest inland panufac
turing towns, across country having no eleva-
ton Of surface exceeding one hundred, and forty
feet above its common level, where iron is as
cheap as IN any Of the countries from which we
import il, and labor so abundant as to be literal
ly starving for want Of employment
So much for the cost of this road, which has, |
as yet, but two tracks, and can transport very
bulky commodities with the aid of new locomo-
tive engine called the Sampson, and some two
or three other engines Of less power; but not with
cut occupying SO much space to interfere with |
the convenient use of the only adjacent road |
track for carriages.
In the same expose, which very literally aspers.
es the ignorance Of those who have doubted the
economy OF rdii-roaus, anu tnetI convenient appil-
cation to the carriage Of heavy and bulky commo-
riities; it is somewhat trlumphantly announced as
victory over the very circuitous water commu-
nication between the same towns, that the price
of transportation per ton. along the thirty-two
miles of rail rosd between Liverpool and Man
chester, is reduced to ten shillinss sterling, and
Of persons to FIVE shilliugs per head.
Assuming this triumphant result Of SO many
experiments, as the measure Of the economy Of
on this road; and since its revenue,
in the vety spring tide Of its success, while Gu
iosity has been on tip-toe to behold and enjoy T
Is use, is Just R2 per share of its stock. but r
mall sum to those stockholders who have waited a
70 many years for any income at all, it cannot be
imposed that much greater reduction is here a
fter to be expected. The public are invited to d
compare the reduced cost Of carriage on this rail-
cad with the cost Of transportation on an equal n