Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-03-29

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thanks. We take pleasure in giving the follow
ing extracts from the conclusion Of the report:
TOTAL COST or ROAD.
The total cost Of the road, completed for loco
motive power from indianapolis to Terre Haute.
vii! be as follows:
Cost of grubbing. grading. and bridg-
ing, Southern line.) $685., $50 90
1868 miles track comp lete. $s.s73 50
per mile, 6o3.377 81
Total, sI,Ols, 1913 80
Average per mile, $l3, 1893 Sc.
II to the total cost, above, be added for con .
tngences and superinte nd ence, per cent. on
the Of grading and superstructur-, $26, $50 90
And probable sum for engines, cars,
ware houses, shops, turnouts. &c.,
Of $4,000 90
The total cost of road and equipme n;s,
ready for transportation, will be-
come, $l,lS5.49l e9
The average, per mile, will then be $40. 10000
nearly.
BUSINESS OF The ROAD.
II an estimate were made Of the surplus pro-
ducts of the district of country which will con-
tribute 10 the transportation of this road which
would at this time be conveyed upon il were it
ia operation, there is no doubt but sufficient bus
mess could be shown to make investment in
the stock Of the road profitable one. There
road within State, where the contiguous coun-
try is better able to sustain it than the route here
contemplated.
When consider tho fact universally attest
ed Of the power inherent in railroads to create
their own business, any calculation Of probable
business from data now to be obtained, must be
very far below the reality. when a road has a
country to support il, Of such unusual produc
tiveness as the one gh which this road pass
es. A more satisfactory mode Of arriving at the
transportation on this road would be TO compare
il With some other road similarly situated. The
Madison and Indianapolis road will pc rhaps afford
the most appropriate comparison. The length
Of this road Is eighty-six miles. The road how
ever has only been in operation far North as
indianapolis, since the first Of October Iast-for
the remainder Of the year from Edinburg, 80
miles South Of Indianapolis. The gross r-c-ip pts
for ! mcnths, beginning with October, this
road, are 4el $3.50 90 1t 10 true that this COM
prrhcnds the most active part Of the year this
road, and were the receipts for the whole year
assumed in direct proportion to this amount. it
would make the business Of the road greater than
experience will show it to be.
Look ing at the business that has been done du-
ring the balance Of the year between Edinburg
and Madison, think il safe 20 assume $3.50 900
as the gross receipts for one year on the whole
road. Taking this sum then, and deducting from
it the cost of working and maintaining the road
for year. aud shall have a for the net
receipts, which have no doubt will be less than
will he realized. have no means Of ascertain
ing the amount actually expe nded for mante
nance and working expenses ON the Madison
road for the four months above named. But Ia
king the usual expense for these items on most
Of the roads in this country. constructed in AZ
permanent manner as our estimates contem-
plate, believe that an allowance of40 per cent.
Of the gross receipts. for these expenses. will DO
entirely sufficient to cover them. Deducting
then 40 per cent $50, 900 from 1900 900, the
is left $3.50 900, the net receipts for year
This will give dividend of over 10 per cent. on
the capital necessary to put your road in opera
ton. Taking into copsde rat ion the great supe-
riority OF the region upon which this road will
depend for hasine both it regards its prese mt
state OF cultivation, and its ultimate agricultu-
| raj product veness, over the country contiguous
with the Madison road, the can be no doubt
that this estimate for the business Of the road is
Tar below what would be realized.
In this estimate Of the probable prohtabeness
Of this road, it has been viewed isolated
and merely sectional work, and as such only, il
has merits which must insure its early construc-
lion. When completed. it will form an impor-
tant part OF one hundred and sixty miles Of con-
tlnuous railway, running from the centre Of the
w abash valley to the centre of our state, and
hence to the Ohio river. touching the rich val
ley Of the Wabash at the junction of tho Wa
bash and Erie and cross-cut canals Mt Terre
fiaute on the river, and passing through five OF
the most fertile and productive counties Of the
state, on central line, remote from the Ohio
river and the lakes. where Of necessity some ar
or later be made. Indeed work Of this kind is
indispensable to the agricultural and commercial
wants Of this section Of the state and 10 the only
means by which it can accomplish exchange
Of commercial equivalents. That a railway is
the best that can DO made, 10 too eviden mt to re-
quire demonstration. Their superiority over all
other artificial modes Of communication. in re-
gard to the per centum they pay on the cost Of
thcir construction. and tho benefits they confer
on tho country through which they pass, 10 at
this day universally conceded.
Not only is il fair TO suppose that this road will
do ~ much business the Madison road but
viewed AZ an extension Of that road. it must. in
the very nature Of things enhance tho business
Of both very greatly. Being the most &C =
trail and direct route from st. Louis Pittsburgh
and the north. not only will the great mail from
the east be transported on it, but the number OF
passc myers it will transport must greatly exceed
tho average travel upon roads OF its length. The
Wabash river, and the Wabash and EVE Canal,
which will be finished to Terr- Haute during
the present year. will aid in swelling the bust
ness Of the road; and il is not unworthy of con-
sderation, that this road passes from Terre Haute
through the eastern edge OF the great Illinois
be sent over this road to the centre, rs it shall
be required for fuel or for manu- fac turing purpo-
ses.
However great the intrinsic merits Of thi. road
may be, viewed an isolated road from Terre
Haute to Indianapolis. vet when We consider il
AZ . link in . great chain Of railway reaching
from the Atlantic ocean to the Mississippi, it a.
sumes a character Of the gre Attest Importance
Such line, when completed. Is it must Be in .
few years. will Be the most important on this
continent; and perhaps in the world, bic nding Al
It Will the commercial and social interests Of hal
the Union.
| The character Of this enterprise, and its gen
erai effects upon the country, are appropriate.
ly set forth in the address Of the St Louis anS
Cincinnati Railroad Convention, Of Nav last
that will take the liberty. in conclusion, Of an
nsxinG few extracts from il:
! "I, 10 esstsmPlassa that tAis sailssad shail b