Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-01-01

The ANNEXED hsgh compliment 60 q PORTO, nj
our eoaairy men. 10 from the Edinburgh R.,iev
No Iai:
In our enquiries regarding the Amer.
can Rail road Companies, we have
been struck by the public spirit and
candour which characterize the pro-
ceedings of our Transatlantic country.
men. This is especially conspicuous
when We compare the meagre state.
mcnts put forth by the Liverpool and
Manchester Railroad Directors. with
the coP'ous and satisfactory reports
published by the Baltimore and Ohio
kail road Company. The reports now
before Us, published between the years
ISIS aud iS;S3 occupy upward: of a
thousand octave pages, illustrated with
numerous plans and tables. In these
We find not merely the formal report,
oil the directors, but also the detailed
reports OF their engineers, and OF IN,
subordinate engineers TO their engineers
IN chief. We find also the most mi.
mute details of the various contractors.
These details are not merely submitted
to the stockholders themselves. but are
laid before the public. The volumes in
which they are recorded form a rich
storchouse Of knowledge for guidance
IN other similar enterprises; whilst the
publicity thus given to every particular
operates as a check upon the spirit of
Jobbing. IL is only by this carefully
recorded experience. that We can hone
to see this new and powerful means of
transport brought TO perfection. In the
absence Of such information. every nc,v
undertaking will have to work its way
IN a great measure, in the dark, repro
ducing, at infinite labor and expense
the precious fruits of that experience
which are withheld by those who have
already obtained them.
The Nartes Of France anu ENGLAND.
We gave the other day from an official
French journal of last year an account
OF the French Navy. We now trans.
late from the same periodical for Janu-
airy oil this year a comparative state
ment OF the English and French Ma
vies' as to the number OF ships and off,
GERS ~. Y. lin.
Comparison 6efpeen tie .Narv Of
France and Eagiaad.-AccordinS 70
the Official documents, the officers of the
English Navy are, ~ Admirals Cd Vice
Admirals, 81 Rear Admirals, 43 Rear
Admlrals on half pay, 7S6 Captains
SIT Commanders, 27J Lieutenant Com.
manders, 3l72 Lieuts, 4S7 Masters
6;o Quarter Masters, lOSS Medical
officers, 63 Chaplains.
There are p ships of 100 guns and
over. 99 seventy-four gun ships and
over. lOi figates of and above 81 guns
p steam vessels, and $40 ships rang.
ing from 40 to 81 guns-in all 557 YES
sells.
The officers OF the French NAVY are
. Admirals, IL Vice Admirais, % Rear
Admirals, 20 Captains of line of battle
ships, 40 captains of frigates, 80 cap
tains OF corvettes, $50 Lieutenants. of
line Of battle ships. $50 do of frigates,
3lo Medical officers, Is, 800 Masters.
Scamen and boys.
There are 40 line Of battle ships of
from "a to so guns, 52 frigates Of LIST,
I'd and Sd rate, b corvettes, IL steam
ships, 300 brigs. schooners. gun boats,
SC.
England with three times as MANY
ships and officers as we, spends only
I'D millions of francs annually, rs
millions dollars on its Navy. Ours
costs 40 millions francs, IA millions
dollars.I