Litchfield enquirer., 1838-03-08
HOUsATONIC RAIL ROAD.

that of the other roads In New England, 1t
will be found that the HouSatonic viii cost,
when completed, less than one half the
amount per mile of the average cost OF the
other roads. The Boston and Providence
rail road, which has cost three times as much
per mile as will be expended in theconstruc-
ton ofthe Rousatonic road, is universally
believed to be good and valuable stock
A trihe more than one third Of the business
that is now done on the Boston and PFosi-
dence road, will he on the Housatonic, am
ply sufficient to pay all expenses Of repairs
and transportation, leaving to the StOckhold-
crs dividends of more than six per cent GA
the capital invested.
Let us now inquire into the resources OF
the road from which the reVo"ae is to be de-
rived to the Stockholders. These are of Two
classes one local, beirg such as exist on
the line of the road and within the limits of
the State the other foreign, or such as will
be brought on to it by its junction with other
roads. OF the first class may speak with
confidence and without fear of successful con-
tradiction, when | say, that no section of
country in the United States, of the same cx-
tent, can exceed the Housatonic in the extent
and variety of its mineral resources, most. of
which would bear transportation on the rail
road, are Of superior quality, and inexhausti-
BILE. In addition to which is her immense
water power for distance of forty miles on
the river, all of which will be accommoda-
ted with rail road in its immediate vicinity.
The want OF an improvement of some kind
to facilitate transportation from the Valley
to tide water, has been sensibly felt by its in
habitants for years, and is the only cause
that can be assigned why her water power
has not been improved, while large sums OF
money have been expended in the improve
ment of power in other places. 1t is u re-
markable fact, that in scarcely a single in
stance have investments been made in i'm
Provements of this kind, that have not been
crowned with success quite equal to the anti
clpations of those engaged in the enterprise
----in every case where cheap and speedy
transportation can be effected. The water
power Of the Valley from the Falls of New
Milford to the head of Canaan Falls, u dis
lance about 80 miles, is not less in amount
than IL times the power of Paterson, in New
Jersey. The Paterson poweris sufficient to
justify population of 10000 Inhabitants
Should the whole power of the Valley for
tho distance above named, be brought into
successful operation in the business Of manu-
featuring, and the population should increase
in the ratio of Paterson, the result would be
population Of 100000 What the effect of
a manufacturing population of 10000 would
be in affording travel and transportation to
rail road, it is not difficult to conceive. Let
me not be understood as claiming that the
whole water power of the Valley would be
at once brought into practical use nor is
this necessary, for tho rail road is intended
for all coming time. It's friends and patrons
contemplate improvements as the fruit ofthis
project, that shall be made when, in the
course Of Providence, they shall be removed,
TrVaF hrN. mt 10 Of
Ter them; and it would be well if those now
acting on the stage, should set an example of
enterprise and improvement worthy Of the
age in which we live, and worthy the inita-
tion fthose who are to follow &
What / do claim in reference to this SUBJ
ject is, that the construction ofthe road will
introduce theiwater power into immediate
notice; and as the same amount of power
can be afforded on the Housatonic, at one
third its cost at Paterson, Lowell, and other
manufacturing towns, and yet leave to its
present proprietors large and liberal profits
the idea of its remaining long unemployed
would be contradictory to common reason,
sand universal experience. Almost the entire
manufacturing interests Of New England
have grown up within the last 25 years, while
at the present time, the State OF Massachu-
sets alone, is producing manufactured fab
W
which is more than the proceeds ofthe whole
exports from the cotton growing states, and
all this ia spite the unsettled policy of GO
vernment, in reference to the manufacturing
interests which have now, assumed stand
ing and Importance, that commands a res
pcctin the councils of the nation, which will
be likely hereafter to secure to them proner
and salutary protection.
The transportation connected with and
growing out of the manufacture of Iron, is
now nearly sufficient at the usual prices
charged on rail roads, to pay six per cent on
the amount of capital required for its con-
strhction, making no deduction for repairs of
road or expenses of transportation. The
amount Of capital required to produce one
thousand tons of Iron annually, is about &c.
600. The same amount of capital judicious.
Iy employed in the production Of Marble aud
Granite from the quarries, would produce at
least Is, 600 tons for transportation, which at
the present prices of the articles in the mark
ct, would afford large profit TO the produ-
GERS, after paying q liberal price for their
transportation. The contracts for Marble
from this valley, for the Girard College at
Philadelphia, alone, amount to about $780,
600; the marble of the City Hall, in New
York, is from the same range of quarry. Its
use in these two instances is ample proof OF
its superiority, and that when the cost OF
transportation to tide water is reduced one
half 1t will be extensively employed in the
construction of both public and private cd.
ifices and for various other purposes. Many
other qualities Of marble are abundant In
the valley, and from 40 to 30 gangs of saws
are now constantly employed within few
miles Of the line of the road, in preparing il
for market, and no reasonable doubt can be
entertained, that where the cost oftranspor.
tation is reduced ss3 ton, (Which of Itself
Will be q large profit on the trade,) the busi.