Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-04-26

brief sketch of the history of his journal and Oi
Railroads, which exhibits several interesting
facts. AT the period the journal was COM
menced, according 10 the editors showing, the
whole amount Of Railroads complete and in
use, was comprised in the following list:
Baltimore and Ohio 60 miles.
Albany and Schenectady -
Charlesiown and Hamburg, about 20
Mauch Chunk g
Quincy, near Boston, e
Of these 90 miles only were upon any OF
the main lines of rail roads.
The editor goes on TO say:
Let US now compare the present state of az
fairs with this humble commencement. There
are now between four and fUc thousand miles
of railroad in use in the United States, built by
the expenditure Of nearly one hundred millions
Of dollars. Eleven years ago there were but
about cne hundred miles in use
There are now probably more than foe hun
dred locomotive engines IN use, nearly all Of
them made in this country. Eleven years ago
the few engines in use were imported from
England, and were of the Oldest patterns
Since then fifty or more American engines
have been sent abroad, some TO Russia, some
TO Austria, and several 10 England. Had this
fact been predicted, even in the most direct
manner, in The first number OF the Railroad
Journal, il would have sealed It's doom.
Eleven years ago dead level was by many
deemed necessary on a railroad, (see p. SIS,
vol. y and grades Of 80 feet 10 the mile were
hardly thought admissible. Now, engines are
in daily use which surmount grades of 60 and
80 feet to the mile.
notiO 1DIo uyifh Of
tion power were considered the ne plus ultra of
engineering science. Now they are discarded
as expensive, inconvenient and incompatible
with the free use of railroad.
Eleven years ago it was thought that rail-
roads could not compete with canals in carry
ing heavy freight, and even much more recent
ly statements to this effect hare been put forth
by authority Now we know that the most
profitable of the Eastern railroads derives one
half lis income from bulky freight. and that coal
can be carried more cheapy upon a railroad
than in canals.
Eleven years ago the proftableness OF rail-
roads was not established and, discouraged by
the vast expenditure in several cases of exper-
iment in an uniried field, many predicted that
they would be improbable. Now 1t is already
demonstrated, by declared dividends, that well
constructed railroads, when divested Of exiran-
eous encumbrances, are the most profitable IN
yestments in our country. The New England
railroads have paid since their completion 6 10
per cent, several other roads and per
cent The Hudson and Mohawk, of fifteen and
half miles, costing about one million one hun
dred thousand dollars, paid in lS4o z per cent.
on that enormous outlay. The Utica and Sche-
neciady and Syracuse..-nd Utica pay IL 10 IL
per cent The stock Of the Utica and Sche-
nectady Railroad has never been down TO par
since operations were commenced in 1886,
and has maintained its stand without tuctua-
,on at higher rate than any other species oil
stock during all our commercial revolutions.
Eleven years ago there were but SIX miles
yof railroad in use in the vicinity Of Boston,
Now Boston has direct connexon with web
of railways one thousand two hundred and three
miles IN length, all of which except about "a
miles are actually in-use, being greater length
of railroad than there was in the whole world
eleven years ago.