New-York daily tribune., 1844-01-23
THE TRIBUNE.
Destruction os Iron Rails.

To the Editor 81 The Tribune:
find in the Railroad Journal, published in
this city, for November, December and January,
a series of articles, from the pen of Mr.. Charles
Ellet Jr.C r. OF Philadelphia, In which he as
sumcs position, if true, calculated to unsettle
the generally received opinions in this cornmuni-
ty in relation to the value Of Railroads as means
Of communication and transportation and es-
pecla!ly as a safe investment of capital. Mr..
Ellet is evidently laborious investigator, espec
tally when he has an important theory to establish
as will be seen by reference to his articles in the
journal. He approaches his subject with eau
ton and endeayors to establish his preliminary
points beyond controversy, before he breaches the
main, the all important point at which he appears
to aim, viz: that Railroads for heavy freight can
not compete with Canals.
1t is laid down in Mr. Ellet's articles that the
passage Of 150,0 900 tons over an ordinary fiat bar
and 500, 1000 tons over the edge Il or T rail, viii
destroy them, and render them unfit for farther
use. He also asserts that it will require fro, N 50 to
Is cents to replace the iron destroyed each ton
of coal that passes over the Readir O. and Potts
vile Railroad of 100 niles-or y other words if
there should be 100000 ions c,f coal carried over
that road next yea, it will require an outlay Of
S2oo.'Hn, !,, to S3OO,O % make good the iron
alone Can tins DO s' Have we been thus led
astray 4? or are Mr' Ellet's views erroneous? 1t
it highly import ant that the truth should De
known and therefore desire to call the atten-
ton Of your numerous readers to the matter III
controversy, and to request those who have iacts
in the:. possession bearing upon this SUBJECT 70
furnish them for publication. Let us havethe truth
Tt hp
1porn off by the passage Of each ton Of freight
the distance Of 100 miles on a Railroad, then 1t
is time that Railroad companies stop making div
idends, as the entire amount OF their earnings
will be required after paying ordinary expenses to
meet this ertraordinary expense 1t will be seen
in the January number Of the Railroad Journal,
that different views are entertained by several
gentlemen Of intelligence and experience; and 1t
is possible that we may have discussion IN the
Journal quite as important to the business and
monied community, as that now carried IN the
Commercial Advertiser IS to the religious world
| send YOU herewith the articles alluded to, and
hope YOU will find leisure to examine them, and
will then give this place In your widely cTcu,
lated and useful paper, with such comments as
YOU may deem proper to call to 1t the attention OF
those who have experience M.
Remarks.-Mr. Ellet is out of his head, or his
reckoning at any rate. Railroads will last great
deal longer then he estimates, experience has
fully shown. Beside the rail is but small part
of the cost of Road. and when rendered useless
of rail by friction is still Of use as metal And
then. let the Tariff be sustained, and we shall be
making good Rails at $50 per ton before our first
set wear out So there is no cause for alarm.
TEd