Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-09-15
From the american Railroad Journal.
WatertOwn, Rome and Cape Vincent Railroad.


plies So we'll To many other localities, aud proposed
Railroads, that we give it entire.
The road here referred TO is designed TO open
communication from Cape Vincent ON the ST. Law
renee, through WATERFOWL, To Rome, there to con-
meet with the line from Buffalo to Albany-and
thus open communication direct with the BLACK
river country" lake Ontario and Canada.
The writer OF this letter speaks from personal
knowledge ON most OF the ponts--and his advice
SO good and SO applicable, to many other sections
that we should like it much better if we could nut
the Railroad Journal containing i; into the hands of
crery property holder IN The Union
''The following letter." says the Northern State
Journal, SIS from gentleman i'm Boston, of hivh
standing and long experience in everything relating
10 the character and influence Of railroads ON the
various interests of New England. and is in answer
to one from gentlemen of this place The public
are requested to give ii careful perusa It's doc
irnes are sound, the authority is unquestionab!e,
and it relates to subject Of vital interest TO this
country. Let us one and all arouse from our leth-
argy. and by one noble effort accomplish this great
object The God of Nature has bestowed his rood
gifts upon this country with bounti(ul hand, and
we are just to ourselves this will soon become one
OF the most desirable portions of the Union''
DEAR SIR Your favor OF the Sd OF August
was duly received, and hasten to answer the va
rous questions it presents.
You ask NE to state what connection hav4 had
with railroads. Let me reply that. altbouth A
member OF the legal profession, have for the pas,
twelve years been engaged in the direction of steam
boats and railroads, and for seven years been close
ly connected with several Of the most important
enterprises of the State
Early in 1910 was chosen director of the West
ern railroad, and appointed chairman of the com
mitiee which in that year visited Albany. secured
the bonds OF the city, and planned the extension of
the Western railroad 10 the Hudson For the four
following years was in the direction of that en-
terprze, while it struggled through the mountains
OF Berkshire. Subsequently have been director
OF the Fichburg and Montreal railroad the first of
which is in most successful operation, while the
second Is expected TO be set in motion the present
lali. Having taken an active part in conducting
lhese enterprises, owning Il country seat between
the Fitchbu G and Worcester lines over both Of
which pass often In summer, and acting as coun-
sci also In cases OF nearly all our lines of railroad
have enjoyed an opportunity to test the effects of
a railroad on the farms and villages Of our Stale
Although feel deep interest in the progress of
my native State, and trust laudabe pride in her
rapid advancement, trust that do not forget that
l am citizen ofthe Union, and can permit no State
lines 10 limit my philanthropy, Or restrain me from
communicating any light have derived from nv
position. You ask me if railroads are monopolies.
AT first our lines were not conducted on the most
liberal spirit. Our early directors were timid. and
the charges were fixed at four cents per mile for
passengers, and eight cents for freight | have ever
been jealous advocate for low prices. as alike ben
ehcal to the lines and the public. For long time
wrote and urged the point | was met at first by
lncreduous smiles and determined resistance, but
argument and experience at length prevailed
four years since our rates We're reduced nearly
oiie-hali, and ever since an increasing prosperity
has attended all our lines Villages are growing
up at every station, farms improving and rising in
value, and our lines now conducted in a most
accommodative spirit lfmonopolies, they are most
Deral monopoes, for the tendency of rates is GER
tainly diminished, and the accommodation of the
public IN speed, cars, dcpos and frequent trains. is
annually increasing. Around Ike depot at West
Newton large village is growing up, and land has
risen rom 'oo per acre 10 prices varying FROM $500
to SlOOO per acre. At Fi,chburg the population
has risen in three years from 5000 to 5000 souls
the effect of the railroad alone Milk is now car
rled 40 miles, from Leominster to Boston, and a
tram OF five milk cars attached to the passenger
cars, arrives every morning at the Charlesiown de-
pot.
Under The influence of railroads, and OF anufc-
lures stimulated thereby, the old Bay State has
ceased to be All emigrating State 1t receives more
than II sends forth, and will show by the next CEN
slls nearly If not quite million of inhabitants on
ioo square miles OF rugged land, smiling under the
hand OF untIrlng industry, and sparkling with new
and beautiful structures
You ask me TO compare railroads with canals
Let me reply that the former are in almost eyerv
particular superior. Give good and untramelled
line ofralroad besldeyour Eriecanal and its branch
es, and successful as it now is think would enoaUe
to divert Its traffic in five years. and leave it with
out patronage sufficient to keep it in repair. In
New York you have as yet enjoyed no perfect lines
OF railroads. cannot regard line with strap
Iaii nearly incompetent to carry freight, like that
from Buffalo TO Albany, as a railroad Thank
heaven we have none of them here. true rail
road is susceptible of speed of 40 miles per hour,
and It's capacity reaches TO millions Of tons and mil
lions OF passengers to pass over it annually.
1t can live, too, where canal must perish for
want OF business. a railroad costing but $4,000
per mile, can live upon line which sustans but
tour daily stages, and ten daily baggage wagons
in each direction, and pay large dividends; but a
district with this business at ordinary tolls, would
not keepa canal in repair
"A railroad surm0unts SUBMITS inaccessible TO a
canal 1t regards not the drought of summer or the
ice Of winter. BY speed it gives value to produce
canals cannot transport, and commands the travel
against all competition. 1t almost annihilates time
and space.
In Massachusetts we had three canals. First the
MIddeSex. which your commissioners came 10 ex-
anime before they begun the Erie II paid good
dividends, but is now worthless, for it has been
completely put down by the Lowell railroad built
beside 1t. Second the Blackstone. railroad will
this fall be opened on lis banks and all or nearly all
Of the canal viii De abandoned Thnd Inc fia!ap-
shire, from New Haven TO NORTHAMPTON. rail
road is now in progress along its tow path NE
hare dome ,oiM cdaaLS.
You ask me the cost Of transportation on rail-
roads. IL rises and falls with the quantity convey
ed. When business rises to 200,G0O tons year,
freight can be transported on line Ike yours at
cost OF six-tenths Of a cent per ton a mile. excu-
sive of loading and unloading. II has been moved
for less. This charge would include the wear and
deterioration Of cars and the yeuGirs of tlc road