Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-11-04
Railroads and Common Roads.

~"J Vi the most Important eastern lines two
three times, and paying attention to their con-
strucilon and management, chiefly for the benefit of
our people at home, our readers will pardon US if We
occasionally give them our notions on the subject.
Ihey may be somewhat bored by the desultory char
acter of observations but as most people dislike
10 read long essays, that dislike must suggest any
apology which might otherwise be proper our part
One fact struck our minds with force, while
stopping day or two in the interior Of Massachu-
sets along the line of railroad from Springfield to
Boston,-and that was, the zeal and industry with
which the people making roads
leading from towns in the neighbOrhood Of the rail-
road The country is already inersected by so many
roads to give it somewhat the aspect of checker
board nevertheless, where a mile or two in distance
be gained, a better road secured by a new
route it is Immediately made. This is done too, at
the expense of the towns or townships Immediately
interested, and that is not SMALL for many of the
roads are made in the very best and most permanent
manner, and are quite equal, when completed, to
binary Macadamzed turnpikeS. The expense is de-
fayed by taxation of the inhabitants of the towns
voted by the majority, under statutory provision.
1t is In some Instances very heavy; but the people
stand it and willingly pay twenty to forty cents on
the hundred dollars additional taxes with the certain
ty of getting it back the way of Improvement in
the roads, and the consequent facility and COMPARE
tive ease and cheapness of communication.
Our people Just very Jealous in favor of
railroads, especially in this neighborhOod where
nearly all are astonished at the remarkable effects
produced by the recent completion of the Madison
and indianapolis line. That is all right. We need
more railroads. especially eligible outlet north
ecardly, so that we can reach New York next year
BY way of the New York and Erie railroad in three
days The country too, from here tcestcard through
Illinois to St. Louis, needs, and will pay well for
road. We must in time also have direct eastern
route, either to Cincinnati, Wheeling or Pittsburgh.
Within ten years. every of the lines here indca
ted will be built. But that contamination will be
delayed FASTENED just in proportion as we diride
or concentrate our efforts in their favor. We need
not say that we believe IN well digested plans and
united concentrated effort This is the more neces-
sary, because we have surplus capital, and because
what little we have must needs be kept in active bust
ness to be productive. Every of enlarged views
and who understands any thing of the philosophy of
business, must be satisfied OH moments reflection
that if we can secure the construction Of the main
STEMS lateral and collateral branches of roads will be
to follow wherever they may be needed. Upon
this principle all the railroads of New England have
been constructed, though perhaps system ORR
ginally propOunded 1t is the simple principle of
common interest, common PRUDENCE and common
sense If these principles had been applied in the
case of the Madison and Indianapolis railroad, it
would have been completed years ago and instead of
being burden to the State, and literally begging its
way along, would have brought to the pockets of our
people hundreds of thousands of dollars. Nor is that
road, and the which delayed its completion so
long that almost every body finally lost all faith in its
completion until it ultimately reached u.s. and then
were as much astonshed as Rip Van Wrinkle is sup
posed to have been at the appearance of the first
steamboat on the Hudson,-nor is this road, we say,
the only example of capital and energy i-appied.
few years ago, for instance, a charter was
procured from the Ohio legislature, to build the
Mad river railroad from Sandusky to Dayton. They
dallied away their time and limited means forayhe
unable complete the work, and many despaired of
Its completion. Meantime, another work, the Miami
railroad was projected, from Cincinnati TO Xena, we
believe. 1t was profitable, and pushed itself along
until it reached Springfield. The managers of the
Mad river road, having other alternative changed
their original scheme, and instead of trying to carry
their road TO DayUn, altered the line so as to meet
and intersect the Miami road .: Springfield which is
to be at last done by eastern capital Dayton, there
fore, of the finest and enterprisng towns in
the West neither has the advantages Of the road nor
give TO it the benefits of its increasing trade
Would 1t not have been far better in the beginning to
have united the capital and enterprise of Cincinnati
Dayton and northern Ohio in a road starting from
Cincinnati, and going north through Dayton If
that had been done, it would have been
easy for as to have made a connexion with them at
Dayton, whence should have had a northern and
southern route eastward. 1t is comprehensive ideas
of this kind, which wish to incucae, because we
believe that they will lead to results best for all con-
cerned, matter who where they may be, nor the
peculiar character Of the interests they may have at
stake
But we are unconsciously occupying too much space
about railroads here. We meant when we began
merely TO write dozen lines so, urging the pro-
priety-and indeed the necessity pinot negecting the
great common road interest in our renewed zeal for
railroads These the true interests of the great body
of the people require much they do railroads.
If they cannot suffer direct and general taxation for
the purpose, judicious and wel-digested gene
raj law for the establishment of turnpike companies
would perhaps be the next best thing to be DONE
We hope that some one, better versed in the de-
tails Of such matters than are will take this sub
ject into consideration and give the people some in
structiOn upon it.
C<rThe whig papers quoting the false state.
meat of the Louisville Journal that Lynn Boyds dis