Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-09-18
TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI.
: No. 81

In the foregoing numbers have endeavored
to show, not only the necessity, but want Of
"certan" and "cheap" transportation, as well
as to point out some Of the ways in which things
so desirable can be obtained by the people Of this
State. | now come to speak Of "speed," the
last division Of the subject proposed to be dis
cussed in these numbers. The speed OF the
lightning line" and that Of the "Ralroad cars
are both presented to US for our consideration
The first, only applicable to the transmission
Of intelligence, which is, however, Of vast i'm.
portance; the second, for like purposes, as also
for the transportation Of freight and passengers
now at the rate OF forty, but in 90 years more,
seventy five miles an hour.
When the magnetic telegraph lines are gener-
ally put up, as they soon will be, throughout
the Union, you can, at the cost Of few shilIngs
transmit intelligence Of your health, or other
circumstances, from Boston to Astoria, in Ore>
gon, and get an answer in less than two min.
utes!! Or if, you being at Astoria, wish to
draw bill on Merchant, in Boston, and the
dra,Dee has doubts whether the Merchant will
accept it, all he will have 10 do, to satisfy him.
SELF is to go to the Office Of the line, propelled
BY electricity, and through its sgency the ques'
ton may be asked OF the Merchant himself, and
an answer received in half an hour, allowing
% minutes Of that time 10 go from the Office in
Boston to the Merchants place and there get
his answer returned. There needs no further
statement to show its importance. The mind Of
man has not yet conceived Of the unbounded
extent. nor innumerable purposes Of benefit, this
greatest OF all discoveries, will confer upon man
kind, and the writer thinks that its results will
prove a stronger band in preservation Of the
union Of these States, than the venerable Con.
stitution, framed by the fathers Of the country.
We shall, in effect, live neighbors to all.
In short time, it will be common thing for
a family in Boston, to send word on the copper
metallic conductor, that on the next evening, al
o'clock, they will be at the magnetic Office,
in Boston, to hold family meeting and an
evenings gossip, with their friends in Astoria
and ask these pacific jewellers, beyond the ''set,
ling sum-" 10 be punctual in their attendance
| d. OulCC tuclc, ouu WIlo CoSu Pol'y
the cooling effects Of an ice cream, or some Of
the grosser and unmannerly portion OF the groups
puff away, in some body's face, long nine,
the whole neighborhood gossip Of the two cites
The latest news from Pekin and London, will be
exchanged and discussed; heallhs drank, and by
kind Of good bye, each party taking their de-.
parture, the one to bed, the other to breakf fast;
and thus will "old acquaintance meier be forgot"
Ralroads-mors generally useful, as they not
only carry intelligence, but freight and passen.
gers, with great speed, demands now our con-
sideration, and the writer believes, that while
there is no State in the union which needs them
more, so there are none in which they can be
so cheaply made. Besides having all the raw
materials in the creates: abundance, required in
their construction, the surface Of our country is
both smooth and level, 10 great extent over
which they ought to be constructed. 1t is said
10 be a trite, but is emphalcally true saying.
that slime is money" and notwithstanding DO
lieve this ruism has never been doubted. its vast
importance is in great degree overlooked by
the larger portion Of mankind. who although so
much is expected OF them in three score and ten
years, one third Of which is spent in childhood
and youth, third dragged out in decrpid old
age, while little more than one third is allowed
for active manhood; and hence, whatever will
expedite the discharge OF our duties, is OF meal
culable benefit 10 the sons Of men. 1t is but a
brief space in years. since passengers at the Ut
most general speed, were transported at the rate
Of forty and freight twenty miles per twenty.four
hours; while now, in many States Of the Union,
they travel the same distances each hour. Ho,D
much more can be done, needs only to be proved
by the simplest mode Of calculation. The ,con
derful effect on the prosperity Of those parts OF
the union, where these Improvements have been
made, although yet hardly completed, must be
be seen 10 be believed. | know it is insisted
by stinted. uniformed and palsimonious mi nds,
that these Railroads have cost many millions o +
dollars; this is admitted, butt ought not to be
forgotten that the money in the first place went
to the operating classes in the nsighborhood
and from their hands into those OF the farmer
and Merchant Of their vicinity; while in the
second, the profits Of these roads are now, not
only in Europe, but in the United States, be.
coming to be popular modes Of investment for
the surplus cash OF the capitalists; and expert.
ence will show, in less than thirty years. that Of
all others, they will not only be the safest, but