Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-05-23
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The cos. of these roads is to be attributed mainly TO
the reduction of their grades to as level as the
nature of the country traversed VIII permit This
rule is to great extent abandoned. The right of
way with legal and parliamentary expenses also the
establishment Of depot warehouses, etc, items OF
greater expense than in this country.
The seven railways above enumerated yield the bes,
returns The other thirty two, costing G3l l42 176
vary in their dividends from 10 per cent are gene.
rally short roads.
Il would appear that Al miles of railway in Great
Britain had cost S250G00 per mile, equal to thee
times the cos, per mile of the 1000 miles of railroads
completed in the United States The average cost of
the continuous line of 623 miles of railroad from Port.
land in Name, Buffalo, on lake Erie has cost with
in &c 000 $50 900 per mile The average nett in
come on this line of 625 miles may be safely stated al
! per cent although the Western railroad of Massa.
chuse,ls, costing S756679l for 56 miles of road has
only yielded the first year after its completion about
per cent The Utica and Schenectady railroad and
The Utica and Syracuse railroad, and the con,nuou.
line to Buffalo, has yielded from seven 10 twelve per
cent nett
The railway system in New England may be con
sdered eminently successful, and is now fayo,i,e
investment, having The preference over bank stocks
In England, the canals from being q part Of End
working come on'with, railways and manufactures
have not been materially injured by the introduction Of
railways IL is true, canal stocks have fallen much in
value from what they we're prior to the introduction of
railways. For permanent tartstments the canals in
connection with large manufactures and coalinn dis
trcts in great epu,e, and have value with their
propretors much beyond their ratio of dividends The
Loushborough canal gives 60 per dividends, and
worth 81 $50 for tl00 PAID, fy4 500 for 100000
paid ou, for It's cost The Trent and Mersey canal,
that fI30000, yields 65 per dividends, and is
worth II 900 for fl00 paid
It stated tina, sc. canals-all the canals of Great
Britain cos, IS 100000. This is is sum not much
exceeding the amount expended By the State Of New
York in canals, but with very diferen, result This
arises FROM the scattered population in this State com
pared with the dense population in the manufacturing
districts OF Great Britain, with the necessity of their
use, TO convey the materials Of cotton, etc. to the
manufactures This, added 10 the enormous amou nj Of
coal ron and transported The manufacto
ries, and principally by those who the canals, is
the cause Of their great value. II will take centuries
produce the ike results ~ the u. S. In the mean
time railways from their facilities in connecting dis
.ant districts, and overcoming mountain BARRIERS are
daily acquiring warm advocates both in this country
md England They have, fact, become indspensa-
Die for the transmission Of our mails They should
merit The fostering of the Genera! Government,
instead OF the abuse bestowed upon them BY
cumbents Of tie heads Of departments. For national
defence their value cannot be estimated questioned
J. l. Il.
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