The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-05
Total, length I'LL miles,) :
100000

| The branch roads already in operation are annu-
ally augmenting their supplies of coal by the open
ing of new mines along their tracks, and by the in
creased working Of those now in operation.
The only opposition to this road is found in the
Schuylkill canal. This company was chartered in
1915, during the war Its stock was not all sub
scribed for till 1921 20, when Stephen Girard, of
Philadelphia. put his name down for all that re-
manned on the books, amounting to about $500 900.
The capital stock amounted to "a 100000. The ca
nal was completed to PottsvilIe in 1926. Boats of
% tons put upon it, and, in that year. delivered
in Philadelphia $500 tons of coal. They after
wards improved the canal, to admit the pas
sage of coal boats of GO tons. The transportation
of coal continued to augment TILL in 164l, they ac-
tually delivered at their wharves in Philadelphia
5S4, 500 tons. From the heavy dividends they had
declared, the value of their stock rose to two and
three hundred per cent
In 1912, the Reading railroad commenced bust
ness on single track; and as they, in 1912, only
sent 40 $50 tons to Market competition could not be
said to have commenced. In 1913, however, their
business was greatly augmented, while that of the
canal diminished standing at the end of the year,
thus: sent by railroad, 230, 237 tons; by canal,
49l 500. In 1874, the competition became still
stronger; and, at the end of the year, we find the
following result: sent by railroad, AL ,491 tons; by
canal, 1886, 443 tons.
track, the erection and extension of branch roads
the inability OF the canal to compete with the rail.
road has become much more striking According
TO report IN the Miners Journal of the 3lst Nav
this day published, the results from January lat
| 1645, to the 29th May instant, stand as follows.
Sent by Railroad 1875, 1863. 10 tons; by canal. So
53l15 tons. The railroad may be said but lust To
have commenced business with this season; for this
Is the first IN which has been fully realized the ben
eft Of the double track with the advantages of one
or two new and important branches which have
just been thrown open; in addition to which, thew
are now just placing on the road four new large en-
gines, with portion Of the iron cars contracted
for. They now start off daily from to IL engine
week, over 5000 tons sent to Port Richmond.
They say next week they will send down 10000
| tons.
The capacity of this road for the transportation
OF coal may be vastly augmented. Messrs. Bald
(, win q whitney, OF Philadelphia, offer to supply
engines which they will guaranty to haul down this
road 100 iron cars with tons Of coal in each, or
500 tons in the whole, at the rate of 9 miles per
hourl Now, it would be practicable to start down
, train every hour; this would give for "a hours.
$4,000 tons per day, and for the year of 3l3 days
would give an aggregate transportation Of 1856 600
1 tons. They think, however, by the aid Of extra
engines and the use Of Morse's telegraph. thew
might, by possibility, be able TO start train every
1 thirty minutes. This would enable them to send to
| the Delaware twenty-four thousand tons per
day, or the enormous quantity Of seven mil
| lion five hundred and twelve thousand tons
per anum. The cost Of transportation Of coal
on this road the present year, Mr.. Nicos,
the efficient engineer and superintendent Of the trans
portation, machinery, and motive power, estimates
at from IS to 80 cents per ton. He thinks, by the
gradual improvements constantly making, this rate
will be greatly reduced. It's thought the motive
power alone will not exceed ISL cents, and may ul-
iimatey be reduced TO 10 cents per ton. Under
these circumstances canal, with Iockages and de-
| lays, can ever be made to compete with such a
road.
60, ..;Iro.ds in England have ON The averace
cost about 600, 900 per mile The Reading road,
machinery, branch reads, and all, have cost only
about half that sum-
| The Schuylkill canal has ceased, for some time,