Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-14
FOT nc EHIElTeT
THE RAILROAD MANIA.

Facts fairly stated, and circumstances fully de-
veloped, will prove announcement commodities To
those under the Influence OF the Railroad mania.
In triumphany appealing to The experience OF
some of our sister States lhev throw circumsian-
ces out Of view, and only half state facts. They
nconlinenIly point TO New England. md cal up.
on US to follow the example OF our Yankee breih.
rem, with their lines OF Railroads lraversing the
New England States in every direction. But,
do hey tell us how and by whom those Rail
roads were constructed Are they aware OF the
tact, that they have been constructed by priUatc
subssrip'ion? Whether they are aware of it or
not. stale il as mailer of fact, upon reliable
authority, thai no. one of the New England Rail.
roads has been constructed by government, eth.
er in whole in part unless the loan OF govern
neni credit 20 The extent Of iOur millions OF dol.
lars to the Massachusetts Western Railroad,
upon ample security for the loan, be deemed an
exception. Il that ne deemed an exception, il is
The only ono. y the rest OF the New England
Roads have been undertaken and paid Tor by
private subscription.
With what face or prorriey hen can our rail-
road schemers in Old Virginia cali upon us 10
follow the example oiour Yankee brethren, when
they tell US here that Government credit is the
soul Of iheir system OF Internal improvements
They 60 for inyolving the Government, an! for
lake no part nor LOT in their schemes; and lhCy Ut
erly lepudialc he idea O: relying upon pirate
subscription aid iad,vidual cnierpy &c, by which
alone The Yankee railroads lave heen construct
Ell; AMI yet they cal upon the Legislature to imi
tale our Yankee brethren! Good second the
call; and in turn call upon The railroad enthusiasts
10 Ego and do likewise" get up their subscriptions;
pay up their own money, and make railroads
whenever and wherever they may please Why
mott Let them answer, and they will find them
selves constrained 10 appeal 10 circumstances, and
plead that circumstances alter cases" Yes.
truly, circumstances do alter cases-and the cir
cumsiaIces of Virginia are widely variant, il not
wholly different from Inc circumstances Of the
States 10 which railroads are so numerous and so
successful
mile was IS. in Connec:icui IS, in Rhode I,la nd
81, in New YoIk52, in Pennsylvania 81, in Old
F.rg'ni@ only NINETEEN. And it may be fairly
Inferred indeed, there can be no doubt Of The
fact, hat The disparity in floating capital was
equally great in favor OF the Northern States
Where is the reason @! propriety then in Calling
on US, with our sparse population OF only 10 10
the square mile, &c cope with our northern brelh
rem, with population OF from 81 10 95 10 the
square mile? We have not people enough to
construct so many Railroads, nor to support them
by passengers when constructed. And when you
look 10 the nature and character Of our market
able products. how droll is the comparison, be-
tween our huge hossbeads ottobacco, tons OF iron.
herds Of mountain caule, and troops Of mountain
horses, with the goods, wares and merchandise,
and innumersble Yankee notions" of The land Of
work shops, railroads and "seady habits" And
yet with all the circumstances in the Northern
States, favoring the transportation By railroads,
experience has proven that waie: carriage, whe-
Their by river, lake or cana is cheaper than trans
portaIon by railroads; and that not one OF The lat.