The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-10

1t will be Observed that the receipts of nearly every
road in the list have been less for the week this year
than last, notwithstanding the additional length of
some of the lines. The London and North Western
Railroad has, since July, 1847 been extended fifty
miles; in the face of which, the receipts of the
pany have decreased in week. this year, nearly
$1,000. All the principal lines of Great Britain
have realized similar results. We not surprised
unable to satisfactorily account for the great re-
ducton in the receipts of the railroad companies Of
France, for it is well known that the political re-
vouton in that country has been runous
to railroad traffic. but in England, and in Great Bril-
tain generally, there has been why the rail-
way traffic should have decreased, other than the
universal depression in every department. of industry
the scarcity of money and the financial embarrass
ments which all classes have experienced. These
things haye tended very materially to a reduction in
the railroad Traffic of Great Britain; and, under the
circumstances, it should be gratifying to those con-
cerned that such an immense and important interest
has been SO well sustained. The scarcity of money
and the inactivity of trade must have very great
influence upon the railroad business of any country
the two most important items of traffic reduced
viz the passenger traffic. that derived from business
and pleasure travel and the reightng business 1t
therefore clear that railroads in all parts of the world
have not this year been productive they last
and reports showing the receipts this year in compa
rson with those of last, do not present fair state.
ment 1t is time that nearly all the railroads of this
country and many in Great Britain, exhibit greater
receipts this year than last but under favorable
circumstances the returns would be satisfactory
Railroads which have, under all the disadvantages
realized thus far this year, shown increase in their
receipts cannot but be in most prosperous condi-
tion and must be avorably located for extension and
improvement
AS business revives, and the wheels of commerce
get once again in motion, the traffic Of railroads will
increase As times become better shall find very
great addition to the pleasure travel of railroads gene
rally. The depression which has weighed SO terribly
upon all industrial pursuits, commenced just about
year ago. There were indications in the financial
and commercial horizon previous to that OF an ap-
preaching reyulson in all the elements of trades but
they did not burst forth until the latter part of July
or the first of August 1s47 We have for two three
years previous to that period, realized enormous
prices products and every branch of industry
in all parts the world had been exceedingly tive
prosperous. Railroads are intimately connected with
the commercial movements of the cou ntry in which
they located, and, in fact less with the
commercial movements in all countries I; and these
works were Of course, during the activity of trade
and up to the moment of the revolution in the fnau
cal world in the receipt Of great incomes compared
with those of previous years and were consequently
in very prosperous condition. The transportation
Of agricultural products from the interior to the sea-
board, the transportation of merchandise from the
seaboard to the Interior in payment for breadstus
&c. the business travel growing out of the activity Of
trade and the pleasure travel growing out of the
porous condition of all classes, combined to give rail-
roads prosperous When look at the state
of things which has existed for the past twelve months
and compare it with that which existed for the twelve
months previous it is matter of much astenishment
that railroads have been able to make favor
able returns but it confirms in the belief that
ultimately the railroads Of this country are destined
to be more productive in proportion to their cost
than those of any other part of creaon and that as
investments, they will be superior to any other coun-
try both for safety and profit
The internal commerce of this country is yet in its
infancy; and, it grows, public works must grow
with It, They so intimately connected that they
depend upon each other and the time distant
when railroads which now find one track sufficient for
the business offering, will be compelled to double lit
ppetors in the country not bold enough to pre-.
dict one-balf which must ultimately, in the natural
course of things, be realized. Thus far, the in
hated and extravagant estimates have bee than
doubled and railroads increase their sources
Of traffic it is not too much to suppose that the in
for the next ten years will be larger per cent
than has been realised within the past ten 1t Is our
firm conviction that in less than ten years the traffic
Of all these railroad companies which have been in
operation for the past ten years will be than
hundred per cent greater than it is now
Sfoclx Excbunus