Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-11-27
Mtw,.s,rrt RNrk. Nov. 10Th. 1915.

bagee &C. et the rapid rate OF 80 miles day. down the
current and OF fraction Of that distance up tho current
thus making trip from ST. Louis New Orleans. in the
moderate space OF from three months under the
| favorable auspices. The Company styled the d
RI X CO.." perhaps the Jackson River &
kaskaskia 7" Its President ardent man. and de-
served credit for his zeal and energy sustaining the
plans Of the company which, for the circumstances under
which those plans formed. perhaps suited to the
times and indicative OF cntepzc. Here he stood cnfoc-
ing his long cherished notions respecting the advantages 81
fiat boats, upon tho attention Of his companion.
The latter the Captain Of OF the first steamboat,
that ever ploughed these waters and enthusiastic N
his anticpaons OF the results be obtained by the no
duc,ion Of steam.
Blu, the ardent President strovc to clip the wings his
fancy; and asked him if he expected with
the Great "J-R-& x Co." in the uansporta-
ton OF produce: when the Boats Of the Company,
sruccd on cheap plan and manned with few hands,
hoaied freely rheuf cost for ofipe poer the
ing emporium OF the Southwest
In vain the Captain reminded him Of the saving time.
which was saving Of labor and money and interest
money,-of the enormous Of rishts transported
by steam engine, and OF travel likely when
speed should be much increased In vain he pointed
to the experience OF other places.
To all this, the President answered." Your charges
must be higher than you can't afford carry low
you have pay Tor fuel engineers, pilots hemeu,
hands officers, and multitude OF expensive things. How
I
tages2"
Time rolled on, and so did the steamboat and the Hat
boats. What was the RESULT The President soon made
his last fa,.boa trip New Orleans; when he arrived
there he sold his boats for lumber and took passage home
with the Captain. As he passed up. he had the mortca
the neglected atboas rotting along the banks
OF the river. Now. the Hat boats have all disappeared
and steamboats, tho number OF 672. with a tonnage Of
l3i,453, and manned by l3i40 officers aud hands,
tenl m Ines A Of
$500 tons is bearing and, as write. part
ing with "The Monarch" large and handsome boat,
loaded with passengers horses and cotton bales piled four
and five tiers hish These specimens OF what you al.
most hourly meet with on this stupendou, river.
have thus briefly aud imperecy stated the results of
transportation the Mississippi aud its tributaries and you
cannot fail to perceive Messs. Editors, tina, tn, but tn.
undera different aspect, between Rail pads aud Ca
nails, which is going IN Virginia aud other States
OF the Union.
This great against Rail Roads, by tue friends OF Ca
nas is tie Of transportation Rail Roads
and have Just such arguments adv anced, have been
stated by supposed President If be wcully
taken, Canals will occupy the position OF tho
seeded fat boats with all their boosted advantages Of
che spness whilst Rail Road Cars will n.y. with lightning
speed, in every direction throlgh extended territory
Canals at their meridian Rail Roads in their dawn
Suppose 1t be admitted, tor the sake OF Argument that
r. Roads the ,ainiraun charges of Canals
for transportation, will every Canal simply because IL is
Canal, attain the desired naiainEm2 Or though r.
Roads carry low, under equal circumstances
Canals, does it follow that X. Roads will carry all
aud will be supported by eights What expe-
Renee prove this point
The great type OF Canals in the U. States the great
standing precedent quoted by Mr.. Cabe aud Others the
Erie Canal. Leaving Of view the aid which Nature
gave this. in the valley OF the Mohawk-the denser popu.
lauon and higher value OF the lands OF New York their
cultyal &c., there facts be attend
ed to-
|. Why did they construct the Uuca and Buffalo Rail
Road, after the Erie Canal Canals be preferable X.
Roads.
p Why was necessary protect the Erie Canal against
tn competition Of this r. Road, by statute II tho Canal
could carry iregLs much lower; ii cheapness
Of transportation be the only, the principal thing al.
tended to am Informed that the r. Road prohibit
cd by law from carrying freghs when the Canal OPEN
r WHY is the Enc X. Road .S~.. 10 Ue
ed, when they already have preferable Cana-he Ca
ntl Of the Union
l. Why is England practical prudent, wise. capital
outstanding, sagacous, experimental England destroying
her Canals, and making r. Roads in her limits the
amount Of about $40 millions Of dollars-and taking an
interest in other r. Roads. projected, which to
200 millions OF dollars more
These facts learn from late paper. which quoted them
from The Economist, published England and tina,
Journal anticipated the favorable results the saving
OF capital time and labor England, by the construction
OF these numerous Railroads. The which the
friends Of Canals 10 these various enquiries often
inconsistent, ana times ridiculous.
They say England has Railroad mania. We will leave
John Bull his sanity But must say that he
does often go IN such matte aud should much
suspect OF behind-he-age people Of be-
ing infatuated with canals than John Bull Of being de-
menied affair dollar, and cents, and OF practical
knowledge.
One says Railroads made where canals existed, be.
the canals frozen up half the year. What tho
consequence That Railroads are indispensable the other
half and yet be maintained by the profits Of only half
year, though the Of construction Is not thereby one
o diminished and ,heF have be kept up ell the year
round. That which be half the year. should be all
year, and il enjoyed the profits Of the whole year it
would yield more, and yet carry freight and travel
Tho cotton factories OF New England dispensing with
power favor OF Steam, where the water is
comparatively abundant and convenient. But where the
fails during the summer it is found decidedly ad-
van.ageous steam altogether. 1t is asceaned
fact. that i supplanng waer.power in mum.
bers Of the factories OF the North commission sen,
b. the Of Utica, ~ Y. have reported expressly
this effect.
But it be disguised that the great reason why
Railroads constructed where canals existed that the
induce travel by their speed aud comurt whoteas
the tedousness Of canal boats entirely un-ted the
impatient, gO.ahead spirit Of modern travellers
Again, II is said that the Erie Railroad is necessary for
the salvation Of New York from the competition Of Boston,
that 1t would be undertaken bot for the Urgent necess
~ Of the This is ell nonsense unless it be admit
ted that Railroads possess marked superiority over Ca
mails for otherwise, New York should be placed by the
Erie Canal far beyond the rivalry II Boston, with nothing
but her lees advantageous Rail Road Albany. II New
York. with Of the best canals tho world be freed
find it eJpoden' construct the Erie r. Road,
order compete successfully with Boston, who bss her
Western Railroad is this conclusive proof u the great
r advantages Of the Railroad the Canoli Most as
sursdly.
! might refer you many such crses ,hew that the
present practice Of the United States we'll Of Eng
land favor Of Railroads. For Canals 10 bear any kind
Of comparison with Railroads, they be Of tho most
perfect description and constructed under the moot ausp-
| cious circumstances Of nature and art
But, Messrs. Editors, PROFOUND the question to you,
whether It Is at oil incumbent upon 70 shew that Rail
roads transport chsspy Cans eet,i. pa,iJBsl
The true question s, Rafir0ad icing eoHsirueisd nHl
/ ,todUSsys Ey0dUre Ie