Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-01-12
VOL. X.-NO. 20.
COST OF RAILROADS.


possible. The right Of way costs immense
sums. On the London and Brighton road,
great deal Of comparatively poor farming
land through which it passes costs very high
and in one instance we heard that as much
as four to five thousand dollars was paid for
one acre. Besides this outlay Of capital,
companies have had to pay large bonuses to
Parliament for acts of incorporation. To
obtain charter some companies have paid
as high as twenty-five to thirty thousand
pounds sterling.
OF these large sums, it is supposed por-
tons have reached the pockets of individ-
ual members, who, by such means, TO some
extent, reimburse themselves for moneys
spent in securing their seats, and as a set-off
for gratuiious services rendered the nation
as members of the British Legislature.
We annex the cost of the principal rail-
roads in England The London and Black
wall Railroad, five miles long, cost 81 $685.
coo per mile, which is greater in amount
than any other road in Great Britain. One
reason for this immense expense grew out
of the fact of its passing through and over
densely built part of the city, occupying
rather low ground, parallel with the large
West India docks. embracing section Of
the town between Blackwell and the Mino-
res, east of the Tower of London. 1t is
built principally Oh strong arches Of mason-
ry, passing over the tops of the houses in
some places, and cutting through the roofs
and bodies of Others No locomotive en-
CINE is permitted to be used. The cars are
drawn forward by means Of endless ropes.
wound over large pullies, worked by sta
tionary engines. Al the road is much curv-
ed, and one train of cars passes down while
another at the same moment goes up, it is
necessary for the conductors at each end To
have Simultaneous notice of the time oF
starting This is accomplished by means
of the electro magnetic telegraph.
The London and Greenwich Railroad.
twelve miles long, cost sI.270,7lS per
mile.
The three lines Of Railroad in England
executed at the smallest expense. are the
Arbroath and Forfar, the Alesbury Junction
g. the Hayle Railways-cost severally S43,-
S24, Sal go and s'33, 4l2 per mile The
cost of these is rather below the average
cost of railways in the United States
The London and Birmingham road, no
miles long, cost s25S ,244 per mile The
Great Western Railroad leading from Lon
don TO Bristol, 100 miles long, cost $685.
900 per mile. This road has two tracks of
seven feet wide each. 1t passes under Box
Hall, near Bath, through tunnel three
miles long. The hill rises three hundred
feet above the level of the tunnel Several
of the engines which ply on this road,
weigh, when loaded, with water and fuel,
about % tons. They pass over the whole
distance with passenger trains in about
three hours. This road, like all Others in
England, is enclosed or fenced in, so that
no cattle ever intrude upon it. No CON-
mon roads are suffered to cross rail road
on the same level They are made either
10 pass under or above it, on bridge suffi-
ciently high to let the locomotive pass be-
meath it, Hence night or day, the engine
man knows he has no obstacle to fear, and
drives forward with rapid and regular speed
From London to Liverpool is 206 miles, yet
the mail train passes over the distance in
about seven or eight hours.
The London and South Western Rail
Road cost Sl34 200 per mile, and is "A
miles long. 1t extends from London 10
South Hampton. The Liverpool aud Man
chester Railroad cost S236, 1876 per mile
Length 30 miles. The Manchester and
Leeds cost 1887 ,040 per mile. Length 81
miles. This road passes through tunnel
about three miles long The London and
Brighton Road cost the enormous sum of
S30S, 73S per mile. Its length is 81 miles,
1t cuts several hills and deep vaies at right
angles, in the counties of Surry and Sussex
1t passes through five tunnels, each being
about n mile long. II also crosses several
valleys on elevated viaducts of strong ma
sonry. One Of these erected across The
soeaid Saxon word for Valley of Sussex, is
over ono thousand feet in length, and rests
on about 100 double arches, many of which
are from 80 to 100 feet high. The engines
pass over this road in two hours, including
all stoppages The rails laid on this double
track road, weigh each 25 pounds per run
ming foot, and are composed of solid
wrought iron in the form of a double T,
being well secured in heavy cast iron chairs.
The great difference between the cost of
roads in England and the United States,
arises in part from the great difference in the
value of land through which they pass
Aud partly, to the superior durability of the
English roads, and especially to the dnpIi-
cate tracks laid down on all. Iron costs
them less; but this is counterbalanced by
other circumstances Owing 10 the more
durable structure, their repairs do no, prob
ably cost as much as they do with us and
as greater speed is obtained, there is a saving
of fuel II we do not equal England in the
quality of our roads, We surpass her and all
other parts of the world, in aggregate
length
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