Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-10-07

per dHHu!D. IL VIII UC HOliCeU ti!dt
have allowed in my estimate $500 per
mile, per annuln, for Ike repairs of the
track, being larger sum, than is re-
CURED upon The Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, andthe Washington Branch.
with a heavy trade. i consider that
the allowance in my estimate for cos,
of Motive Power, repairs Of Cars,
Bridges, Water Stations, cost OF trans
portation of passengers, &C., is most
liberal; for the annual cost of main
tanning in operation well managed
line ofrailway, is about ! IL per mile
for each ton of freight carried over it,
and ga of cent per mile, for each
passenger. In 1916 the total cost per
ton, per mile, for transporting freight
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as
appears from she report Of tina, Compa-
ny, for that year., 2 16l cents, and
1923 cents for each passenger, and
those sums covered every charge, horse
power in the city, repairs Of, railway
&C. included.
If my estimates De correct, my al
allowances for expenditure being sutfi'
cient 10 cover the expense of the road,
and the number ofpassengers and tons
of freight to be realized, as the trade
on the roaG, then from this data it is
aScertained that, in Che very first year
that the Alexandra and Shenandoah
railroad should be in operation, over
6per cent will be gained upon the cap
ital expended.
To show what obstacles may be
overcome by energy and enterprise,
and the beneficial results produced by
opening up great channels Of commu-
nication, | propose in this place to
give an extract from che report of r. P.
Morgan, Engineer, upon the surveys
9th Chicago and Galena Union Rail
ROAD. In drawing a comparison be-
tween that railroad and the Eastern
railroads, he takes the Boston and Al
bany railroad as an example, a railroad
that cost $10,0OO,00O, for its construc-
ton. The state. of Massachusetts, at
the time that great work was com
menced, together with that part Of the
state Of New York through which it
passes, contains an area of country a.
bout equal to that part of Illinois as
sumed as within the immediate infu-
+, ence of the Chicago and Galena Rail
road. The population and value OF
lands, excepting in particular locations,
had been stationary for many years;
it was an old WORKOUT country, de-
irving its wealth from great industry
and economy, while many of its most
enterprising citizens had gone West;
hence, railroad over the Green Noun
tains was treated by the majority as a
visionary project. Ten years had e.
lapsed before the Legislature would
consent to aid in its construction. -
During the time occupied for this pur-
pose the remarkable effects were pro,
duced; population did not increase.
property was not generally enhanced
in value, and farmers were opposed to
it, Boston capital at length forced
it through, over every physical obstacle
in spite of opposition, and has obtained
a share of Western BUSINESS, contribu-
ting at the same time to the receipts Of
the railroad and her own commercial
prosperity. But the effects Of this
great work were slowly and gradually
developed; at first scarcely paying ex-
penses, afterwards Increasing its re-
ceipts for several years at the rate Of
IA per cent. per annum, while its in
come has increased for the last three
years in the astonishing proportion Of
40 per cent"
This railroad, or as il is styled, the
Great Western, between Boston and
Albany, us undulaiing or al least va
riiable. A train passing eastwald from
Albany ascends long gradients, from
40 10 60 feet per mile, varied occasion
ally BY intervening levels: after travel
ling about so miles, the inclinations
increase q S0fee per mile there aiull
load requires extra power. After
reaching the summit, which IS at an,
elevation Of 1 400 feet above .hesHud
son river, the train descended = long
incline Of nine miles, Ealing from 70 10
SO feet per mile. Notwithstanding all
these disadvantages the Boston rail
road is successful, and transports
ENTHUSIASTICALLY. ltyshould Be remem
bered, however, that these extremely
heavy inclinatiohs extend only over
one fifteenth part ofthe whole distance,