Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-08-19


constructed until IL times greater than the
original projectors had anticipated. We scarcely
conceive of limit TO the increase OF travelling upon
we-coBsrucfed railroad, which shall open direct
muncation between Atlantic and the valley of
the Mississippi Ia few years 1t will be discovered that
great lines Of railroad will be enough
They will be required and they will be accomplished by
tens aud lwenes aud parallel, dvergeut and right
gled lines will sllke every commercial and agri
cultural neigborhood of The West. There is field too
magnificent, permit The consideration Of To-
cal sectional views. There is for the enterprise
of all.
Agricultural commodities Of great weight and bulk,
and at the same time compose the PabuIum which
aIns all commerce.. Compare the capacity OF this region
with any in The known world. for the productions
Of the farm; compare it, facilities with that Of any other,
for the construction OF railroads.
The average Of British rail roads has been Sl57,
600 mile, and the investments yield 10 per Ours
would scarcely cost one tenth of this amount The
Massachusetts railroads cost $4,000 mile. The Lo-
well railroad, Of the best constructed and most
profitable, cost $4,000 a mile. They all said to
yield per this time, and improving. The
Reading railroad, ia Pennsy vania, nearly 100 miles
long cost Sl2 900 mile IL profitable investment,
and yet takes ordinary freight less than cent
mile ton, and passengers at half "a "a mile.
n continuous railroad of suitable capacity, from ST.
Louis To the OHIO river, would not equal one-half the
per mile of the Massachusetts railroads,
fifth the cost Of the most profitable railroad ia PennsyI
vana. The New York and Erie railroad of which
only 81 miles completed in 1885, yielded freight
ceeding the $I6l 900, that year thus
the Great Western railroad between Boston aud But
fo the value of which is well understood. This fact
may be considered demonstrating the immediate
availability OF any complete section IN our proposed line
The main line of railroad to Buffalo, 800 miles in
length owned by distinct corporations IL is
described to be fair investment notwithstanding is
siricon freight There would be a manifest adj
vantage in the projected line, 10 unite the whole under
direction
The New York and Erie railroad now in progress,
has SIX foot width of track; the Great Western rail-
road ot England running between London and Bristol
Is gagged Ia seven feet, whilst the ordinary track
American railroads. is four feet eight inches There
might be decided advantage found in selecting wider
gauge Ii would insure capacity and speed. And upon
trunk So important which the lapse Of few years
could scarcely fail TO crowd to utmost capacity, there
would seem To be evident proprety in embracing
completeness of execution that might adapt il
all the service required. Considerations of this nature,
i eonnoi be weighed too early date. Less difficulty
would he met with, and less parlay exhibited now, in
relation to many important preliminary arrangements,
than we could hope to escape when crowded upon the
eve OF action.
charters completed that capital accomplish this
great work could be- had good promise of support
has been offered but the character of such invest
affords itself the only safe of
The whole length from st. Louis to Pittsburgh or
Wheeling 600 miles, might be completed upon the best
construction for the OF 2 900 900, not to
exceed $4,000 mile" Compare this work, all its
magnitude and promise with the Reading railroad Of
Pennsylvania, "a miles in length, which 81 $780,
0OO
Independently of its paramount Importance in
ting The Atlantic region with the heart of the great valley
of the Mississippi the trade of the West Within tsei
would constitute it safe and profitable Investment 1t
would immediately ntersect the rivers canals and rail
roads Of Ohio and Indiana, and embrace intimate
necon with the trade of extensive popuoUs and fer
tile region. But the commercial and miscellaneous n
tercourse with the Atlantic States, would place
far beyond all competition from any existing railroad.
IL constructed il should be, and rendered inferior
an he from he Ham
tic to the Mississippi could be safely accomplished in
thlrty-six hours; in two days by day light trains
That tins contemplated enterprise would prove mo-
nopOy, cannot be sliort-sIghted hope de-
from Buffalo, along the shore of the lakes
to the Mississippi, is already contemplated another line
may soon be expected between and the lakes and
another sl between and the Ohio river. Yet there
Is room for ALL need any enerprising citizen of the
West, however located, any fear but he will
participate in the benefits arising from the general
adoption ot this new element of commercial intercourse
Whilst II is evidently for the interest of the projectors
Is II not for the interest of the whole West that the first
endeavor to connect the two great sections of the naton
should be made upon central and commanding line
That this OF the best routes the enterprise may
readily be discovered by its position the map of Uni
ted States Ii was selected by able and impartial
the of the great Cumberland Road that noble en-
erPrse of the nation which has been the victim of
explained neglect The selection has directed public at
tennn this point and the importance and pr1prety OF
the choice Is aDundantly confirmed. To this appears
TO be the most important route and decidedly the
I
preferable, and whole influence shall be
IN It's favor Such, let hope may be the feeling which
pervades this convention and the public arge-a dispo
sOn their best efforts upon the strongest
most practicable route. This successfully accom-
pshed, and every of corn and every acre of land in
The West, however remotely situated, is Immediately
HANGED in value and the unbounded capacity of
tile States will al extend the facility every neigh
borhood. Begin upon what point it may, the first Judi
cious and successful effort will be equivalent opening
new channels for the Alississpp-ctannels that will be
safe from all peril and which no vcisstude of season
can obsruct. Many of us believe that enterprise o
this magnitude aud importance, should be the work
the government, and accomplished for the benefit of the
whole people. Unfortunately, however, the disposition.
OF public to misuse their trust and the sinister
nluences that invariably brought into action when
ever disbursement OF the public money be made
compel Us to ireso altogether abandon to private eff
iors, large class OF useful enterprises, which the wei
fare of the public require This great practical defect
our national aud State policy may hereafter be corrected
by wiser constitutional PROVISIONS better adminstra
ton under such possess Corporate power how
ever, adequate 10 Immediate purpose aud liberia
charters may be given that will be safe aud
to the Stockholders whilst equally safe and useful the
people Nor the stockhoder whose sole cost and
RISK the work Is done, reap benefit from his outlay
bal in proportion his successful efforts accommodate
the public.
notwithstanding drawbacks 10 our progress
which appear to have originated altogether miscOmcep
ton, there Is similar work OF any magnitude IN ouI
country, which has been projected under favorable
auspices, or with better prospect of early and
/ cessful cOnsummatIon
Ii is work intended for the especial benefit of no one
locality, whether city, village, county, State the
whole West and the whole nation, may claim, il as the
enterprise, and their property Ii should be
in the liberal spirit which its character and importance
demand and when successfully accomplished it be
acknowledged the magnificent enterprise of the
age connecting, by direct and uninterrupted line and
by transit the most rapid economical aud sae that
been devised by man, the commercial wealth and enter